Reed honored for work with trail passage
CONNELLSVILLE – A former city official has garnered recognition for her support of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Trail Town Program that connects the pathway to the adjacent communities. Former Mayor Judy Reed was presented the award by Allegheny Trail Alliance President Linda Boxx and Progress Fund/Trail Town Program director Cathy McCollom during a recent meeting of the Connellsville Area Historical Society.
“I was so surprised and so honored,” said Reed of the presentation.
Reed was the first recipient of the award that will be given annually to a supporter that has offered significant assistance in helping the Trail Town Program reach its goals of connecting trails and towns for increased economic impact, McCollom said.
“Mayor Reed was always available when called upon to speak with funders and other municipal officials,” she said. “She represented Connellsville at numerous meetings regarding the Great Allegheny Passage and publicly spoke out about its importance to the region.”
Reed said that she has supported the Trail Town Program initiatives because she believes the Great Allegheny Passage and its related programs are a part of Connellsville’s future.
“They have the vision and the expertise and provided the city with many opportunities,” Reed said. “Sometimes we had to tweak some of their ideas to make them fit to Connellsville because we wanted the city to be unique.”
Through the Trail Town Program, the city has garnered national and state attention because of its ties to the trail and has benefited local residents and visitors through funding to upgrade Yough Park, the establishment of a park refreshment stand and scheduling of various meetings and programs to plan for the future.
“(The Progress Fund/Trail Town Program) has aided the city in its efforts to upgrade railroad service and make other improvements,” said Reed.
“It is a lot of work to make contact with the appropriate officials to discuss the issues that are important to a community,” Reed said, further stating, “With the assistance of Cathy McCollom and Linda Boxx we were able to move some of these projects forward because Connellsville does not have a direct line to those that can offer financial help or support. It is because they have interceded on our behalf, we have been able to do many of the projects that are in place or are about to take place.”
Both women, said Reed, are to be commended for their work along the trail and in the local communities.
“Cathy McCollom was always available for us, when needed, and a tremendous asset to Connellsville,” said Reed. “I refer to Linda Boxx as the ‘queen of the trail’ because of the wonderful work she has done on behalf of the trail.”
Reed said because of their commitment and dedication to the city, she believed that when called upon to support the trail or related programs, it was her responsibility to do so.
“There are many, many people that have worked very hard in support of the trail,” she said. “It was always my honor to go and represent the city and talk about the importance of the trail.”
McCollom, meanwhile, said that the award was to show appreciation to Reed for her contribution.
“We are grateful for her support and wanted to publicly acknowledge her in some way,” she said.