Grant Will Connect Settlers Cabin to Panhandle Trail

A new connector will be built between and the Panhandle Trail thanks to a $500,000 grant from the state and county.

Now, Collier Township officials hope the trail connector will help them turn their new community park at the former Nike Site into a destination point for area visitors.

“It really enhances our linear park and it is a destination point for people to come to Collier,” township Manager Sal Sirabella said. “It’s a huge amenity for the people of Collier.”

He said the township is planning to build a connector from, which it acquired from the federal government just last week, to the Gregg Station stop on the . Now, the new grant will extend the connector from Gregg Station to Settlers Cabin Park.

“We recognized that when we put together Collier Park, there was a discussion to move forward with that connector,” Sirabella said. “It was a priority, and now it will be a huge enhancement.”

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded a $750,000 to Allegheny County, which is matching it with an additional $750,000 from its capital improvements budget. The Post-Gazette reported that the $1.5 million will then be divided between the Settlers Cabin connector and improvements to the South Park Oval.

Sirabella said the connectors will eventually allow people to move directly from Settlers Cabin to the Nike Site area.

We knew that the county was interested, but of course, we weren’t sure if it was going to come to fruition,” Sirabella said.

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