New Mayor Announces Shuttered Walking Trail to Reopen in Corry

During his first public comments as Corry’s newly sworn-in mayor, Jeff Fike made an unexpected announcement tied to one of the most controversial issues of the previous council term: the Greenway Junction Trail Extension. The announcement was made at Corry City Council’s Reorganizational Meeting on Monday.

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Fike announced that the gates placed at each end of city-owned property between Elk Street and Route 6, along the former railroad grade near the Subway restaurant, had been removed earlier that morning. The action reopened the stretch of property to public access for non-motorized recreational use.

The property had been closed following a 4-1 vote by the previous city council in July 2024, a decision spearheaded by then-Mayor Michael Baker. Fike, who was serving as a council member at the time, was the lone dissenting vote against closing the trail.

“As of this morning, the gates placed at each end of the city property … have been removed, opening that stretch of city-owned property to public access for non-motorized recreational purposes,” Fike said. He added that future discussion involving council and the public would take place regarding the long-term status of the property. Until then, the same rules that apply to other city-owned recreational properties will be enforced, including dawn-to-dusk use, with enforcement by Corry City Police.

The Greenway Junction Trail Extension, located between Columbus Avenue and Elk Street, had drawn intense public interest and debate throughout 2024. Dozens of residents packed council chambers for a meeting when the vote to end the project was taken, many wearing green in support of the trail and representing Impact Corry and other community groups.

Supporters cited economic development, quality-of-life improvements, and regional trail connectivity, pointing to studies and letters from other communities that documented positive impacts from similar trail systems. Nearly 600 people signed a petition in favor of the extension, including more than 350 city residents.

Opponents, many of whom live adjacent to the proposed trail route, raised concerns about privacy, security, and safety. Several residents spoke about finding suspicious items on their property and expressed fears related to trespassing and drug activity.

During that July 2024 meeting, Fike publicly criticized the decision-making process and accused the prior council leadership of ignoring public input. He stated at the time that the trail vote was a key reason he decided to run for mayor, citing a need for greater transparency and reduced micromanagement at City Hall.

Ultimately, council voted 4-1 to end the project, returning more than $70,000 in state grant funding, plus interest. While an alternative trail route was briefly discussed later in the meeting, the original extension was officially closed.

The decision to reopen access to the former railroad grade does not reinstate the Greenway Junction Trail Extension project, but it does reopen the property to public use. Fike emphasized that additional discussion with council and the public will take place in the coming weeks.