In the background is the sound of traffic, and the hustle and bustle of daily life. But before the eyes is a wide, clear stream flowing gently at the base of a tall cliff. There's the sound of water flowing over small natural dams, and a Y-shaped tree, with one of its trunks jutting out over the creek. It's the Dougherty Nature Trail along Pine Creek in Etna, and it's a favorite spot for Pat Oresic and her 3-year-old grandson, Griffin. "It's so nice to sit down there. It's so nice and peaceful," said Oresic, 69. "My little grandson throws rocks in the water and he feeds the ducks and he tries to fish down there. It's really very nice." The trail, opened in June 2006, is about to get a bit bigger now that the borough has received a $9,000 grant from the state, the last money needed to extend the trail, borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said. The trail, which now dead-ends, will be extended to encircle the adjacent ball fields. Ramage said the borough plans to seek bids for the work in November, and have it completed in the spring. The trail includes a limestone path, benches, trash containers and a variety of plants. Including bank stabilization to repair damage after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the complete project will have cost about $120,000, with grants covering what would have been the borough's share, Ramage said. "We're so urbanized, there's no place like that," Ramage said. "It's really like a diamond in the rough for us. People are very happy with it." The trail is popular with children who play softball on the fields, said Ken Szalinski, 48, president of Etna Baseball and a girls softball coach. He said the trail has made getting to the creek safer for children. "It's a nice place for the kids to play since they put that trail in," he said. "Because of the trees, it's nice and cool down there. The kids go down and they'll jump in the creek, run around and throw stones. It's a nice addition to the ball field." Besides being a place to walk, sit and fish, the trail has become popular for picture taking, including wedding photos at the Y-shaped tree. "It's a nice thing," Szalinski said. "Hopefully, we can keep it like that."

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