Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Improvements are coming to the popular Eternal Flame Trail at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, all with the intention to make the trail safer for visitors.
Erie County Parks Commissioner Troy Schinzel tells WBEN he's fortunate to have the Chestnut Ridge Conservancy help with a $134,000 investment into the trail. "Crews will be putting about 135 timber box steps in and retaining walls to make it a safer a walkway to and from the eternal flame," says Schinzel. "Then around the stream bed, there's a steep section that is often wet, we're going to be relocating a section of trail there ... we'll be also clearing the trail away to the eternal flame. Over the years, trees and stumps and debris have have made the passage a little more difficult."
Schinzel says safety is the big reason for the improvements. "Oftentimes, it's the trail itself, but quite frankly, oftentimes, it's it's the people visiting those trails, not wearing the right footwear or ... wearing sandals or Birkenstocks and things of that nature," says Schinzel. He says this is the county's way of saying it's going to do everything in its power to make the trails safer. He warns those going to the eternal flame or any trail within Erie County Parks should also take the necessary steps to be safe themselves.
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Work begins next week. The trail will have detours for hikers to work around as crews make the improvements.