Delaware And Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Inc

PER THE BYLAWS OF THE DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR (WHICH WERE UPDATED BY THE MERGED BOARD OF THE NATIONAL CANAL MUSEUM AND THE D&L), OUR MISSION IS TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AGENCIES, COMMERCIAL ENTITIES, THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE CORRIDOR TO: 1. CONSERVE THE HISTORIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF CANALS AND OVERLAND RAILROADS AND AMPLIFY THE RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON THEM 2. BROADLY TELL THE STORY OF THE REGION BY STRENGTHENING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION 3. ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR STEWARDSHIP WHICH WILL PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC SITES, COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES, ENHANCE RECREATION, AND CONSERVE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT 4.PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPITALIZING ON THE CORRIDOR'S RICH HERITAGE AS A MEANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION.

D&L TRAIL DEVELOPMENT THE IMPACT OF THE D&L TRAIL ON RECREATION, HEALTH, AND TOURISM INCREASES WITH EACH TRAIL GAP THAT IS CLOSED AND EACH CONNECTION TO ADJACENT TRAILS AND COMMUNITIES. MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING EXISTING SECTIONS OF TRAILS BENEFITS CURRENT TRAIL USERS AND IMPROVES SAFETY. THESE RESULTS LEAD TO INCREASED TRAIL USAGE, IMPROVED HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, AND INCREASED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, DURING THE TRAIL KICK OFF MONTH OF APRIL, TRAIL COUNTS WERE UP BETWEEN 29% AND 59% AT TRAIL COUNTERS, COMPARED TO 2019 USE. EVEN AFTER THE DRAMATIC TRAIL INCREASES IN 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE ON TRAILS.

NATIONAL CANAL MUSEUM THE NATIONAL CANAL MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO TELLING THE STORY OF AMERICA'S HISTORIC TOWPATH CANALS WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PENNSYLVANIA'S LEHIGH AND DELAWARE CANALS THAT CARRIED ANTHRACITE COAL FROM THE MINES IN NORTHEASTERN PA TO MARKETS IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY, PHILADELPHIA, AND BEYOND. THE MUSEUM INTERPRETS THE HISTORIC IMPACT AND CULTURE OF CANALS, AS WELL AS THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THEIR BUILDING, THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AND AN INTERPRETIVE CANAL BOAT RIDE PULLED BY MULES.

LEHIGH VALLEY GREENWAYS CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP SINCE 2004, LEHIGH VALLEY GREENWAYS CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PROACTIVE, PARTNERSHIP APPROACH TO LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES. WITH THE PA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, D&L STAFF CO-LEAD THE WAY WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PARTNERS TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. BY PROVIDING RIBBONS OF GREEN THROUGHOUT THE DENSELY POPULATED AREA, LVG HELPS KEEP COMMUNITIES CONNECTED WITH TRAILS AND GREENWAYS.