Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ironton Rail Trail has remained a popular spot for recreation in Whitehall, Coplay and surrounding areas. Many residents have followed the governor’s stay-at-home guidelines and have taken to daily walks as a relaxing means for some much-needed fresh air.

Volunteers from the community, like Dave Sentiwany, of Whitehall, have fortunately been able to continue with planned renovations and improvements to the trail to keep it in shape for use.

For Sentiwany, that meant installing six homemade bluebird houses, with the help of his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Janelle.

Sentiwany built a dozen birdhouses late last summer, half of which he gave away to friends and family, and the rest he saved to hang up along the trail this spring.

Bluebirds are very territorial, Sentiwany explained, so the houses have to be hung at least 150 yards apart from each other and 6 feet off the ground. The hole is specifically cut to an inch and a half in diameter, so the birds can get inside. The whole front wall lifts open on a hinge, so it can be cleaned out at the end of the season.

The birdhouses are only a small part of Sentiwany’s work on the trail. He also helps other volunteers like Rick Turk, Ray Bieak, former Coplay mayor Joe Bundra and Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners President Philip Ginder.

A couple months ago, this group replaced the wood on several benches along the trail with a more durable composite material. In summer 2019, they also installed several informational panels that detail the history of landmarks along the trail, such as Thomas Iron Works and Fort Deschler.

Projects like these are made possible with funding from state grants and donations to the IRT.

If you are interested in volunteering to help develop and maintain the trail, contact the Whitehall Township recreation office at 610-437-5524, ext. 160, or rail.trail@yahoo.com.