Posted on October 1, 2017
2017 Great Public Space: Karl Stirner Arts Trail, City of Easton (Northampton County)
Great Places Urban Design & Placemaking 2017
The 2.5 mile Karl Stirner Arts Trail (KSAT), in the City of Easton, follows the Bushkill Creek and connects Scott and Riverside Parks, Centre Square, and Lafayette Colleges’ William Arts Campus with SILK, a mixed-use creative redevelopment community complex. This unique hiking and biking Trail, developed through a partnership between the City, Redevelopment Authority, and Lafayette College, showcases works by internationally and nationally acclaimed artists, as well as local and regional artists. Karl Stirner, the Trail’s namesake, was a renowned formalist sculptor and Easton resident. His unnamed sculpture, known as the Karl Stirner Arch, holds a place of honor on the Trail. The KSAT presents educational and inspirational possibilities for residents, visitors, and students, including workshops and classes with artists and environmentalists. People of all ages frequent the Trail, which encourages the entire community to find resonance and meaning in art and nature.
