The Ironton Rail Trail will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a ribbon cutting between 10-10:30 a.m. June 12 on its trail that extends into North Whitehall Township. Also featured are a 5-K walk/run and exhibits.

Walkers start 9:30 a.m. Runners start 10 a.m, at the North Whitehall recreation area, 3256 Levans Road.

Race day registration is from 8-9:15 a.m.

Packet pick up is between 3-7 p.m. June 10 at The Emmaus Run Inn Store.

Registration can be done at brynmawrrunningco.com under events and races.

Borough and township officials will be present at the ceremony. State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, and state Sen. Pat Brown, R-16th, are also expected to attend.

Heralded as one of the finest trails in Pennsylvania, which is dotted with numerous historic sites and crossings through towns and scenic settings, the trail became a reality in 1996 through the efforts of then Whitehall Township Executive Mike Harakal, who is expected to be present for the program.

Picking up the mantle of construction, improvements and maintenance of the trail is the Ironton Rail Trail Oversight Commission, whose many members have been involved in IRT from the beginning.

IRT board Secretary Ray Bieak said Graham Hantz, whose historical display of the cement plants that operated decades ago with the Ironton Railroad serving the mills, can be viewed at the Whitehall Parkway, which the trail crosses.

Numerous benches and trees dedicated by individuals to family members or others dote IRT.

And, the 56 Eagle Boy Scout projects add to the grandeur of the trail - 9.2 miles.

The new North Whitehall trail will have a trail head at the end of IRT, Bieak said. The major trail head is in Stiles, off Chestnut Street, near the Ironton Railroad restored caboose.