(2/1) At its January 18 meeting, the Town Council approved land purchases to extend the Gateway Trail.

The purchase of the three parcels established the first connection for the Gateway Trail to get from Community Park to the west side of town and "eventually hoping to make a great loop," through the Catoctin Falls and the Catoctin Furnace, Mayor John Kinnaird said.

"Loops are extremely popular with the hiking and biking crowd," he said.

The project has been in consideration for many years and the purchase of the properties to directly connect Community Park with West Main Street allows for trail expansion while eliminating any confusion with neighboring landowners.

"This is a great project that we’ve had under discussion for many years, and I think this is an amazing first step," Kinnaird said.

The three parcels are: a segment at 128 West Main Street, a segment at 202 West Main Street that goes down to Hunting Creek, and a .49 acres parcel located on the east side of Hunting Creek, Chief Administrative Officer, Jim Humerick said.

"This really allows for a free-flowing continuous loop all the way around," Commissioner Wes Hamrick said.

The three parcels total $18,500 as well as recordation, survey, appraisal, and settlement fees, estimated to be about $5,000, Humerick said. The cost is being covered by a $75,000 grant received from the county as part of Project Open Space for the acquisition component, he said.

In a letter submitted to the council, Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder encouraged support of the parcel purchases to create a loop from the Thurman Trolley trail via Community Park to the Catoctin Mountain Park.

The benefit and value in the connection will strengthen ties with the community, and there is a bolstered economic impact on communities that have connecting trail systems, Grinder said.

"Tourism is a large part of our economic development strategies and has proven effective, and this would only enhance those results in the long run." It is not about the black and white return investment but rather a "a social return on investment," Grinder said.

The connecting loop will increase business tourism including restaurants and retail. "Tourism is the path to sustained, distinct industries and many of those are the backbone of the community and lifeline for all the nonprofits in Thurmont," she said.

The expansion of the trail is a "proactive path to potential new businesses and residents," as its clear younger families are moving to Thurmont, Grinder said.

"Just like our skatepark, it proves every time we make an improvement to our parks, the community really enjoys it, and this should make a difference to our tourism too," Kinnaird said.

The next step of the project is to bring it in front of the Maryland Board of Public Works for approval.