A promise years in the making has been completed with the final stretch of paving to the Panhandle Recreation Trail.

Managed under the auspices of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation, with support for many years from a group of dedicated volunteers who have provided much of the labor and maintenance, the trail was established on a former rail line (something which has been done in many communities across the nation over the last 30 years or so).

I grew up, and still reside, near the trail, and can still recall seeing the train traveling along that particular corridor in my youth. I often would go over there, riding my bicycle on a nearby road, and occasionally walk along the tracks, making certain to keep an ear out for the train whistle.

When it was converted into a recreation trail, I would take my bicycle over and ride a couple of miles up and back, especially on the weekends or during summer break in my college years. Back then, the idea of having the trail was still not well known, so I often could ride around for a couple of hours and barely see anyone else.

Eventually, it started getting popular. These days, especially when the leaves aren’t on the trees, it’s easy enough to see people walking or riding along the pathway. There aren’t too many nice days you don’t see someone there, and, all too often, there are several cars parked in the main trail station near U.S. 22.

I remember going over to the trail to take pictures when the Park Board was able to get funding to put a new layer of crushed limestone down, covering up a lot of the rougher gravel that had been there for years.

Pennsylvania had opted to pave its portion of the trail, helping to blend it in more easily to the network in place throughout Washington and Greene counties, some of which extend to other areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, which then connect into Maryland and beyond.

Now, after years of raising funds and making the purchases, the West Virginia stretch of the trail is completely paved. It even goes beyond the area most people think of as the trail, extending north and west from the trail station parking lot, following the path of Harmon Creek to a point near the rail yard and fairly adjacent to Municipal Plaza in Weirton.

This has been a mission of the Park Board for a long time, as the idea has been with a fully paved trail, it will bring more visitors to the area. People often have said they will ride their bicycles along the trail, but then stop at the Pennsylvania state line and turn around, not wanting to risk the journey onto the rougher surfaces in West Virginia.

As one of the nearby residents, it certainly has appeared as if an increased number of visitors have been on the trail with bicycles since the paving work was done a couple of weeks ago. It seems every day I see a car, with a bike rack attached, is either heading toward the trail or leaving as I pass the area.

I know not everyone has been happy about the paving, though. I’ve heard (and seen online) comments about the trail no longer being suitable for walkers because of the difference in surface.

I haven’t been over to see it myself, (and not to make light of it) but how different is it from walking around the Walmart parking lot? I imagine the track around the football fields at some of our local high schools have a bit of a bounce to them, but probably not that much. I know for a fact there are people who use those for their walking.

During a meeting this week, someone pointed out there is still room on either side of the paved path to walk if people are concerned. I know that might not seem convenient, but it’s an option.

It’s something new and different, and will take some getting used to for everyone. But it’s a step forward.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)