The Palmerton Memorial Park Association has received a donation for the maintenance of a nature trail.

Recently, the Palmerton Concourse Club presented the group with a $100 contribution for maintenance of the nature trail that surrounds the pool facility.

Through this donation, the Concourse Club of Palmerton continues its efforts to support the local community and its residents, according to Concourse Club events Chairwoman Lisa Snell Kern.

Concourse Club Conservation Chairwoman Susan Prout explained the significance of the trail.

“This trail is important to me as a place where we can all go out and explore nature right here in our community, either by ourselves or with our family and friends,” Prout said. “We can take a stroll, or a jog around the trail and enjoy the beauty of the habitat around us. Getting out into nature is good for the soul.”

The trail is a half-mile long on the association’s 18 acres of woodland, and is accessible from the grove area and the main pool parking lot.

Ideal for both walking and jogging, the path has been in existence since the pool’s inception in 1947.

It was formally established as a nature trail by the Environmental Club from the Palmerton Area Senior High School, although the exact date is uncertain.

At that time, signs were added along the route to indicate different environmental areas, such as old growth forest, new growth and wetlands.

Originally, the trail “road” was used to access some of the association’s water well sites along with providing access in the event of a forest fire.