The patch of ground around where modern-day Walnut Street in Columbia, PA meets Front Street at the Susquehanna River has a colorful history that includes long-standing Native American use, a near-miss at being the nation’s capital, a ferry with sometimes days-long waits, lumberyards that supported prominent black businessman Stephen Smith’s Underground Railroad activity, a burning bridge that arguably changed the direction of the US Civil War, and the growth and expansion of the Pennsylvania Railroad, silk and lace mills and many other factories.
A portion of this land has also long been held in trust for public access to the river. This was the vision of Samuel Wright, Columbia’s founder, preserved in 1814 through the creation of the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company. Wright’s purpose wasn’t necessarily recreational: early uses focused on common access to lumber, fisheries, and produce delivered by boat and rail. This unusual ownership model has proved challenging to redevelopment activity, particularly in terms of liability, resulting in a recent transfer of ownership to the Borough through a long-term lease.
Today, this old public ground is still open to all as Columbia River Park. Through incredibly hard work by many borough residents and partners, the Park now links to regional and national recreational opportunities through the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, which opened in 2016 and showcases area artists, houses rotating exhibits on local history, offers meeting space, and provides information and refreshment to thousands of visitors a year. It also anchors the 53-mile Lower Section of the Susquehanna Water National Recreation Trail and is the southern terminus of the 14-mile Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. All of these lay within the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, recently named the nation’s 55th national heritage area.
River Park is currently looking forward to development of Phase 3, covering eleven acres of land lying north of the Trail Center. Planned improvements to the 100 & 200 blocks of Walnut Street will reinforce the connection between the park and the town through an innovative design that creates a protected bicycle lane and landscape plantings while increasing street parking.
But you don’t have to wait to visit, there’s already plenty to do. You can snag a comfy rocking chair on the big deck overlooking the river, grab a tasty treat or cold one in town, check out the newly renovated Market House, or whizz past the ruins of iron furnaces as you ride upriver to Marietta and beyond. If you are in town in October, swing by for the Columbia Historic Preservation Society’s festival celebrating a staple of local lore: the Albatwitch, a mysterious creature that roams the woods surrounding town, chucking apples at unsuspecting visitors (but hopefully not you!).
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