Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a $500,000 investment toward the acquisition of approximately 17.57 acres in Easton and West Easton Borough, Northampton County, for development of the Easton Highline.
The grant is part of a nearly $82 million investment in more than 295 recreation and conservation projects across Pennsylvania – a significant statewide effort to create new recreational opportunities, expand outdoor access, protect natural resources, and strengthen local communities.
“Easton’s Highline will be a boost for the city and the entire region. The Shapiro-Davis Administration is proud to work alongside the Trust for Public Land and local leaders to make this project happen,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis.
Easton, the Greater Easton Development Partnership, and Trust for Public Land are working together to transform a long-dormant rail corridor into the Easton Highline, a public greenway including two miles of trail to reconnect the city’s growing downtown business and residential areas with nearby natural spaces, supporting safe walking, biking, and running.
The project is located within the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and is part of the Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, connecting it to broader regional conservation and recreation efforts.
Funding will help acquire five parcels along the former railroad corridor to create Easton’s third largest park, offering elevated views of downtown and the Lehigh and Delaware rivers. The project will connect downtown to the Two Rivers Trail Network via the West Easton Bike Path, with future links planned to the 165-mile D&L Trail and the proposed Morris Canal Greenway in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
“Investing in outdoor recreation is investing in Pennsylvania’s future,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Easton Highline will connect neighborhoods to trails and green space, create safe routes for walking and biking, and transform an unused rail corridor into a destination that strengthens community life and local businesses.”
The park will especially benefit neighborhoods with limited access to green space while conserving more than 17 acres of woodland, which helps control erosion, store carbon, and improve water quality. As a destination, the Highline will also bolster tourism, increase foot traffic for local businesses, and strengthen Easton’s long-term resilience through conservation and thoughtful reuse of existing infrastructure.
