(Story & Photos by Matt Drzik, additional photos by Mark Benes)

Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.

Eight-year-old Emily Sledzianowkski was asked by her teacher to write a letter to a local politician. She wrote to New Galilee mayor Mark Benes about the possibility of improving the Gilkey Walking Track at New Galilee Park, located on Fairlane Blvd near the junction of Routes 168 & 351. The letter was hand-delivered to Mayor Benes back in June.

Roughly two months later, the letter turned into a reality.

On August 3, the finalization for the paving took place at Gilkey Park, with Sledzianowkski, Mayor Benes, and State Representative Jim Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler) on hand to see through the words in the letter come to life. Beaver County Radio was there as well as the Lindy Paving trucks were making their way around the track.

Sledzianowkski wanted a track where she and her friends could bike safely, which would have been rather fruitless in the track’s old state, given the gravel that was first placed there had since grown over. But her letter went from Mayor Benes to Vice President Dan Ganoe of Lindy Paving, and within two months the plan was put in place to pave over the old trail with a new, smooth surface donated to the community by Lindy,

Not only is this the propelling of Sledzianowkski’s reality come to life, but according to Mayor Benes, it could be the start of something new in the New Galilee area, as the track is now more user-friendly and could attract more walkers and bikers to the borough.

A sign at the entrance of the Gilkey Trail will be created thanking both Sledzianowkski for her ingenuity and pursuance, as well as Lindy Paving for donating their time and resources.

And all it took was a simple letter.

To check out photos from the paving ceremony, take a look below!