The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Northeast Regional Office, in partnership with the National Park Service created the Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Partnership in Luzerne County.  This new partnership of health care organizations and the local trails community was formed to promote physical activity through the use of the developing trail system in the Wyoming Valley.  Since the inception of the Partnership, the partnership's mission has expanded to include promotion of active living (per guidance from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). 

Geisinger Health System, a key partner in the Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Partnership, has recognized that many of the health related issues facing the Wyoming Valley area are also present in the Columbia County and Montour County service areas.  In these areas, 64% of the population is overweight and 35% is obese.  Heart disease, diabetes and hypertension resulting from obesity and a lack of physical activity constitute a major health related issue facing this community.