Despite the naysayers, fearful property owners who filed lawsuits, and townships that claimed ownership in 1992 when a Rails-to-Trails venue was being discussed, hindsight has shown that the Butler-Freeport Community Trail has been nothing but a boon to county nature enthusiasts, scouting groups, walkers, joggers, birders and cyclists during the past 30 years.

The 30th birthday of the 20-mile trail that rose from the ashes of a former railroad will be celebrated in October.

Chris Ziegler, who has been trail council president since about 2007, said Conrail pulled up the tracks in the mid 1980s, and the Butler-Freeport Trail Council was born in 1992.

The group’s vision was to put a rail trail from Bonnie Brook to Freeport for locals to enjoy.

But much resistance, up to and including multiple lawsuits, ensued.

According to archived Butler Eagle articles, many residents whose properties bordered the former tracks thought the land abandoned by Conrail should revert to their ownership.

Officials in Winfield, Buffalo and Jefferson townships contended they legally bought the land in 1991.

Other property owners along the former tracks feared vandalism and trespassing should the property be converted to a trail.

Eventually, all the lawsuits were dropped or settled, and work to remove rotting railroad ties and tires that had been dumped began.

Ditching and culvert pipe was installed, the land was cleared and leveled out and crushed limestone was added as a trail surface.

The fears of local homeowners never came true.

“It has not happened,” Ziegler said. “We don’t have any records of people filing police reports that someone broke into their house, stole their big-screen TV, and biked away with it.”

Ziegler’s home is along the trail, and she enjoys hearing the happy sound of small children laughing as they learn to ride a two-wheeler or friends shouting greetings to one another as they pass on the trail.

“To me, the trail is purely social,” Ziegler said. “My husband knows, if I say ‘I’m going down to the trail. I’ll be back in 15 minutes,’ it will actually be two or three hours.”

She said one 92-year old man she met on the trail is like family to her.

“I never would have met him if it weren’t for the trail,” Ziegler said. “I have met so many close friends I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

Ziegler became involved in the trail council when her sons were looking for an opportunity to complete their Eagle Scout projects.

Her oldest son built two bulletin boards and three benches along the trail, and her youngest built two picnic tables.

She soon found herself attending a trail council meeting.

“It was a great group of people,” Ziegler recalled. “There was a lot of energy in the room.”

At that time, Ron Bennett, the initial trail council president, was looking for a new leader to give the trail a fresh and positive restart.

When Ziegler took over, the trail was extended four miles into Father Marinaro Park in Butler.

Buffalo Township now owns the trail, and she and her volunteers work with the supervisors there regarding maintenance and upgrades.

The trail was opened with an official ceremony on Oct. 2, 1992, that was attended by former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris and Pittsburgh media personality Della Crews.

Ziegler said the council will plan a 30th anniversary celebration at its August meeting.

The caboose that was moved from the former Cooper’s Station Restaurant in September 2020 to a section of the trail near the Cabot trailhead likely will be the location of the celebration, which will be held in October.

The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is more than a nature and recreation venue, Ziegler said, it’s a boon to the local economy.

The addition of the DeRaillure Bike Shop Cafe along the trail in Herman is a popular stop for many using the trail.

The cafe serves sandwiches, ice cream treats, snacks, smoothies, coffee and water to walkers, joggers and cyclists who dip off the trail for a breather or to use the restroom, Ziegler said.

On the southern end of the trail, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania recently added the Buffalo Creek Nature Park near the Monroe trailhead.

The nature park offers ice cream, vending machines, bathrooms and nature programs.

Ziegler said the nature park has been very well-received by those using the trail and has introduced the trail to locals attending programs there.

“It added so many more amenities,” Ziegler said. “We didn’t have anything at that end of the trail.

She said the trail-side venues are very important to the trail’s popularity.

“You can have a trail with no amenities and nobody comes, or you can have a trail with things that people need,” Ziegler said.

She said those who end their trip on the trail at Father Marinaro Park might patronize a store or restaurant in Butler, and Freeport has reported trail users cycling to local coffee shops, restaurants and stores.

The trail also has attracted residents of the Steel City who enjoy the quiet, bucolic atmosphere. Those trail users also support the local economy.

“We get a lot of Pittsburgh folks who spend their money in Butler County because of the trail,” Ziegler said.

Another upcoming project is the paving of about one mile of the trail between Marwood and Winfield roads so people of all abilities can use the trail.

“The community is aging,” Ziegler said. “We’re focusing on all abilities.”

The caboose is used for open houses during the holidays. Ziegler hopes scouting groups will begin using it to sell ice cream, T-shirts and other items to those using the trail in the summer.

“It’s a good opportunity to engage with the community,” Ziegler said.

She said a group of dedicated volunteers cares for the trail under her guidance.

“It truly takes a lot of people, and you have to take care of the trail every day,” Ziegler said.

Volunteers meet at various trailheads to clear trees and brush after a storm and use a all-terrain vehicle with an offset mower to cut the grass along the trail in the summer.

Ziegler recently purchased a tractor to maintain the trail, including the surface of the 11-year-old section between Bonnie Brook and Butler that has gone largely untouched.

The tractor also will be used to drag the trail and dig ditches along its side for drainage.

One volunteer also maintains the membership list database, sending out reminders and renewal cards.

“That’s a full-time job in itself,” Ziegler said.

Volunteers are imperative to the trail council’s largest annual fundraiser, the Buffalo Creek Half-Marathon.

“It takes about 180 volunteers to do the half-marathon every year,” Ziegler said.

She said the second-largest fundraiser is the annual membership drive, which is now underway.

Memberships start at $20 per year, and are available, along with information on the trail, at butlerfreeporttrail.org.

“It’s just so awesome, and it really is a community trail,” Ziegler said. “Everyone seems to take ownership and are very conscientious about it.”