Sergeant Carl F. Curran II Bridge
in East Brady
With much publicity about the exciting project to open the Brady Tunnel to trail users, people are asking, “Will the 3.5 miles of the Armstrong Trail north of the Brady Tunnel become a little-used spur trail?”
The answer is this: East Brady is an ideal place to start or end your ride, hike, walk or geocaching outing. It is the gateway to the Armstrong Trails and offers many amenities to users such as restaurants, businesses, parks, and parking. There are also a few B&Bs a short bike ride or drive from town on Seybertown Road.
Several long-distance bike routes are possible with the Armstrong and Redbank Valley Trails merging at the juncture of Redbank Creek and the Allegheny River. Over 80 miles of mostly level and smooth trail are a cyclist’s dream! When the tunnel opens and gaps in the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail are completed, there will be an option to bike to Erie from a starting point in East Brady (or start in Erie and bike to East Brady). Work also progresses south of East Brady to connect the Armstrong Trail to Pittsburgh and the Great Allegheny Passage. Local users will continue to have an easily accessible and well-maintained trail to enjoy.
Currently, the availability of food is widely dispersed along the trails, with only the larger trail towns offering this amenity, so even those traveling north from Kittanning en route to Brookville or Oil City may want to extend their ride a short distance for food. Take-out and eat-in options are available at most restaurants. There is also the option for a picnic at a table at the Riverfront Park where bald eagles are often seen flying over the river.
In 2017, the East Brady Area Development Corporation (EBADC) became a participant in the Towns and Trails Regional Coalition, a program that was also being implemented in Ford City, Kittanning, New Bethlehem and Brookville all located along the Armstrong Trails and Redbank Valley Trails. In conjunction with this program EBADC created a Trail Town Initiative committee to carry on the work.
Since its inception, the committee has taken on several projects identified as enhancements to the community. These were viewed as enticements for outdoor recreation enthusiasts to visit our town, patronize our businesses and spread the word that East Brady is a destination for trail and river users. Just as important, one of the goals of the committee is to educate local residents and business owners on the importance of the trail and river to the local economy and to their personal quality of life.
Local trail town projects include:
• The Playground of the Allegheny mural in downtown East Brady. The mural, installed in 2017, depicts four seasons of outdoor recreation from cycling, to boating, hunting, fishing and snowboarding.
• A 3-panel informational kiosk installed along the Kelly’s Way with side pockets for maps.
• A Welcome to East Brady & the Brady’s Bend Area Map & Information Guide produced in 2017, now in the third printing. Businesses are promoted in the map and information guide at no cost to them, with area attractions and community services noted.
• Signage at the trail heads, on the trail and in town identifying parking, trail rules, bike routes to town from the trail and directions to the trail.
• Local arts and crafts displayed in a vacant storefront for the past 3 years.
• A pavilion, signage and a free little library at the Riverfront Park between the trail and the river.
• Landscaping and beautification projects.
EBADC and the Trail Town Initiative committee are focused on projects that have a positive impact on the trail and river town of East Brady.
To learn more or to become involved please send an email to ebadc68@gmail.com , or text or call 412-759-9152.