Philly Love Notes is a website devoted to just that - love notes to a place or aspect of Philadelphia, written by residents new and old. This week's Love Note was written by Poly Math (a pen name) to the Schuylkill River Trail, and features some lovely photographs of the views from Schuylkill Banks.
JULY 1, 2013 - Christine Fisher, writing for PlanPhilly/Philly.com, provides an update on the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. The Boardwalk will connect the current terminus of the Schuylkill River Trail at Locust St with the South Street Bridge. Current estimated completion is fall 2014.
The 58th Street Greenway had its official ribbon cutting on Saturday, June 8th. The Philadelphia Inquirer and PlanPhilly were on hand to cover the event, which was commemorated by Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler, Senator Anthony Williams, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, and Councilman Jannie Blackwell.
PlanPhilly's Christine Fisher explained the trail's significance:
After more than three years of planning, more than a year of construction and ongoing community involvement, the 58th Street Greenway opened Saturday. The 1.5 mile, $3.5 million trail provides a critical link between the Cobbs Creek Trail, Bartram's Garden and the trails beyond. As community and project leaders stressed though, the trail is more than a connection. It is a vote of confidence in the South West Philadelphia, Kingsessing neighborhood.
The Inquirer's coverage is here. You can see more photos of the ribbon cutting at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's Facebook page.
On behalf of The Circuit Coalition, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia invites you to the launch of the Circuit Commitment Campaign.
We are bringing together trail enthusiasts and supporters like you for two informational sessions in June (one for PA, one for NJ). These caucus meetings are the kickoff to the Circuit Commitment Campaign.
The Circuit Commitment Campaign's goal is to replenish the DVRPC (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission)'s Regional Trail Fund, which is a competitive grant program established by the William Penn Foundation in 2010. The fund is distributing nearly $10 million in our nine-county region, and is helping plan, design and build nearly 40 miles of trail.
This grant program, if continued, could have a major impact on our trails! So we need people like you, who want to see The Circuit's unfinished trails built, to encourage County Commissioners (in Pennsylvania) & Freeholders (in New Jersey) to allocate a second $10 million for the years 2014-2016. This money will continue the momentum of that first grant cycle, moving us closer to realizing the vision of a region connected by a world-class network of bike-ped trails: The Circuit.
Get involved in creating new trails for your community by attending your state's trail caucus!
The Pennsylvania Caucus
June 17th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Haverford Community, Recreation & Environmental Center
Register to attend here
New Jersey Caucus
June 19th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Camden County Boathouse
Register to attend here
The Pennsylvania Caucus meeting will provide an overview of the next set of Circuit trails currently under development in Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties.
The New Jersey Caucus meeting will provide an overview of the next set of Circuit trails currently under development in Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties.
At each meeting, we will also discuss the campaign goal and how you can help get this trail funding secured.
The Rails to Trails Conservancy profiled Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's growing urban trail systems, and the Gray's Ferry Crescent received some special attention.
You can read the full article here: www.railstotrails.org/news/features/taleoftwocities.html
Friday, April 5, 2013 - Nice coverage from NCB10 Philadelphia about The Circuit in the context of possible Pennsylvania legislation which would establish a dedicated state fund for bicycling and walking projects.
Last Thursday the new section of the Schuylkill River Trail, located along Nixon Street in Shawmont, opened with notable speakers and an enthusiasic crowd. Mayor Michael Nutter, Congressman Chaka Fattah, State Representative Pam DeLissio, Councilman Curtis Jones Jr, and Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis were all on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Congressman Fattah arrived at the event on bicycle (see photo above).
The event received press attention from both WHYY Newsworks and the Roxborough Review.
Feburary 13, 2013 - The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the William Penn Foundation has suspended grants to city-related agencies. This affects the funding for Bartram's Mile.
Link to the article below:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130212_Wm__Penn_Foundation_suspends_grants_to_city.html
WHYY NewsWorks provides updates on the Manayunk Bridge and other trail projects happening around Manayunk. The big news: the current timeline for the Manayunk Bridge has the project being completed middle of 2014.
The Circuit in the news recently:
An exciting new development in Philadelphia's ongoing reclamation of old industrial land will be on display this weekend. The parcels of land on the north and south sides of Bartram's Garden, dubbed "Bartram's Mile," will be converted into trail connecting the Garden to the Schuylkill River Trail and The Circuit. These parcels will be open to the public for the first time this weekend.
Join us this Saturday for a guided bike tour of these future trails and the adjacent 58th St Greenway. On Sunday, you can take the same guided tour by foot.
Saturday, November 3rd - Guided bike tour
Start: 1:30 pm
Starting location: Bartram's Community Farm
Locations visited: Gypsum site, 58th St Greenway, Schuylkill River Trail at Bartram's, and National Heat & Power site.
Sunday, November 4th - Guided walking tour
Start: 2:00 pm
Starting location: Bartram's Garden trail head
Locations visited: same as above
Take the tour to learn how the Parks and Rec. Dept will develop the off-road route from the Gray's Ferry Bridge to Bartram's Garden, and from Bartram's Garden south along the Schuylkill.
The northern parcel is formerly known as the "National Heat and Power" site and the southern plot is the "Gypsum/Transmontaigne" site. Both are owned by the Philadelphia Development Industrial Corporation, which is deeding river frontage over to the Parks and Rec Dept to create new trails.
Note: the original version of this post was published on the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's blog.
One important piece of The Circuit opened to the public in the past few days, and another had its official groundbreaking.
On Saturday, the Connector Bridge crossing the tracks at Schuylkill River Park officially opened. On time and under budget, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has previously written extensively about the project.
The bridge opening gathered extensive press attention as well, from The Inquirer, the Daily Pennsylvanian, Flying Kite, and PlanPhilly.
On Monday, a new trail on Philadelphia's other river broke ground in Port Richmond. The aptly-named Port Richmond Trail will help connect people to the Delaware River and add more mileage onto the 250+ miles of bike/ped trail already built in The Circuit. U.S. Rep Allyson Schwartz, who helped secure the federal TIGER grant funding the project, attended the ceremony.
Media coverage for the groundbreaking included CBS 3-KYW, WHYY Newsworks, PlanPhilly, and the Abington Patch. The trail is expected to be completed by September 2013.
August 16, 2012 - The Roxborough Review ran a 2-page article about the trail work happening in and around Lower Merion Township. For the full article, click here:
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2012/08/16/roxborough_review/news/doc502d2489f0adc746935711.txt?viewmode=fullstory
“Not only does it ensure public safety, but it’s a way to engage the public to make sure they’re following safe bicycle practices,” explained Albert Evans, Park Ranger Supervisor.Patrols will be added in two phases. The first phase of patrols are currently underway following the completion of a training course by two rangers and the acquisition of bicycles, a bicycle rack and high visibility uniforms. Two additional rangers will be trained and are expected to begin patrols later this month. The training course was provided at no cost to the county as an in-kind donation by state-certified instructor and retired Reading Police Sergeant, John Pontician.Bike Patrol Rangers will be equipped with mountain bikes and first aid kits at all times.“We frequently come across injuries on the trail. The majority of medical emergencies that occur in the parks, rangers are the first responders and often come across them before 9-1-1 is called.,” Evans said. “Bicycles offer a more effective and efficient way to patrol areas that are being used more and more and that are not accessible other than walking.”Bern Township Police Officers are also assisting in the bike patrols of the Union Canal Trail, which runs between Blue Marsh Lake and the Stonecliffe Recreation Area. The trail sees significant traffic from walkers, joggers and bicyclists.
Are you exploring The Circuit by bike this summer? Join the nearly 1,000 other bicyclists who are already participating in the I Bike PHL Challenge!
What is it and how does it work?
How can I sign up?
How do prizes work?
Explore The Circuit this summer and help Pennsylvania and New Jersey show the rest of the country that we get around on two wheels!