New Trails Coming To Northeast Philadelphia
Work crews are in the final stages of renovating Benjamin Rush State Park - a tract of land in Northeast Philadelphia bordering Bensalem Township east of Roosevelt Boulevard. Philadelphia's only state park has been previously known for its community gardens and model airplane airfield.
The newly renovated park will provide 3 miles of internal looped trails. Meanwhile just to the east Philadelphia Parks and Rec has put the construction of Phase 1 of the Poquessing Creek Trail out to bid. Using the abandoned right of way of Mechanicsville Rd the trail will connect Junod Playground on Dunks Ferry Rd with Burling Rd. It s not totally clear whether Burling Rd will be improved to make a direct connection to the trails in the State Park but the plan is to link the Poquessing Trail with the Benjamin Rush trails.
Another interesting feature is the abandoned bridge over Roosevelt Blvd for Byberry Hospital. PennDOT planned to remove the overpass but apparently the expense of tearing a down a bridge at a time when the Department cannot afford to maintain active bridges probably means that it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Plans are to build the Poquessing Creek Trail westward and to do so will mean that it will have to cross the 12 lane highway. Therefore keeping this bridge in place and maintained makes a lot of sense.
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The newly renovated park will provide 3 miles of internal looped trails. Meanwhile just to the east Philadelphia Parks and Rec has put the construction of Phase 1 of the Poquessing Creek Trail out to bid. Using the abandoned right of way of Mechanicsville Rd the trail will connect Junod Playground on Dunks Ferry Rd with Burling Rd. It s not totally clear whether Burling Rd will be improved to make a direct connection to the trails in the State Park but the plan is to link the Poquessing Trail with the Benjamin Rush trails.
Another interesting feature is the abandoned bridge over Roosevelt Blvd for Byberry Hospital. PennDOT planned to remove the overpass but apparently the expense of tearing a down a bridge at a time when the Department cannot afford to maintain active bridges probably means that it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Plans are to build the Poquessing Creek Trail westward and to do so will mean that it will have to cross the 12 lane highway. Therefore keeping this bridge in place and maintained makes a lot of sense.
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