OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — Mike O’Neill spends a lot of time out on the Rail 66 Country Trail but he isn’t just strolling – he is a major force in the development of the trail and his work earned him the James E. Holden Greenways Volunteer of the Year award from the Council on Greenways and Trails.

(Photo: Mike O’Neill holds his Volunteer of the Year Award for his work on the Rail 66 Country Trail. From left are Ron Nick, a contractor on the Rail 66 project, Rail 66 directors Tim Huebert and Al Lander, O’Neill, Rail 66 president Vince DiStefano and Rail 66 treasurer Sue Patton.)

The award was presented Aug. 14 at the Oil Creek Memorial Landing in Oil City. Based in Oil City, the Council on Greenways and Trails partners with municipalities and non-profit organizations to support trails and greenways in Venango Clarion and Crawford counties.

The Clarion County Chapter of the North Country Trail received the Neighbor of the Year Award for developing the Clarion Loop Trail connecting the Clarion University campus to the Clarion River.

The Partner of the Year Award went to Tom Jennings for organizing the Oil Creek 100 Trail Race in Oil Creek State Park.

A director of Rail 66 Country Trail Inc. O’Neill contributed considerable time, talent and treasure for over five year toward developing the Rail 66 Country Trail in northern Clarion County. A retired engineer, O’Neill lives near Lucinda and very close to the trail and he spent spending countless hours at his desk and out on the trail.

He studied maps and original drawing of the rail line, located and checked 131 culverts and drains, developed spreadsheets and flow charts, supervised bidding for paving work and designed trail gates and parking areas, and even shot a YouTube video tour of the trail.

Then he put on his gloves and cleared underbrush and tree falls, removed old ties and recycled railroad spikes and plates, operated an impact roller, marked PA OneCall locations, crawled into ditches and culverts to inspect drainage, then grabbed shovels and picks to get drains and culverts replaced and repaired.

Mike is currently designing and building trailhead signs and displays. He mows the trail berms and clears leaves several times a year, and keeps constant watch for downed trees and other problems.

Rail 66 founder and director Al Lander praised O’Neill’s energy and dedication to the community, helping individuals, volunteering for organizations, church and school, and serving as a volunteer EMT with the local ambulance service for 37 years.

“Mike has not received recognition for his hard work and dedication to community service until now,” Lander said. “Being a humble individual, Mike never asks for recognition. Rail 66 voted unanimously to nominate Mike for this award. I cannot think of anyone more deserving.”