Progress Of The Liberty Bell Trail To Be Discussed During October Open House

UPPER GWYNEDD, PA — Outdoor enthusiasts in the region will have the opportunity next month to weigh in on a proposed expansion of a local multi-use trail.

An open house designed to introduce the community to a project to further develop the Liberty Bell Trail has been scheduled for Oct. 7 in Upper Gwynedd.

Eight municipalities in Montgomery County are currently partnering with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the consulting firm Michael Baker International, and the Partnership TMA of Montgomery County to advance the planning of the trail, with a feasibility study in the works designed to look at the trail’s further expansion.

The study aims to look at the 11-mile portion of the Liberty Bell Trail passing through parts of central and western Montgomery County.

The municipalities involved in the collaborative partnership are as follows: Upper Gwynedd Township, North Wales Borough, Lansdale Borough, Hatfield Township, Hatfield Borough, Franconia Township, Souderton Borough and Telford Borough.

The Liberty Bell Trail has slowly been pieced together during the past 16 years, with construction of an approximate 1.5-mile stretch passing through Lansdale and another half-mile through Hatfield Borough already having been completed, according to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

The ultimate goal is for the trail to link residents and visitors throughout the North Penn and Indian Valley regions to various amenities, such as downtown centers, parks, schools, natural areas and open spaces and transportation hubs, the council has stated.

In addition to the connection to local amenities, another desire is to have the Liberty Bell Trail connect to a broader network of what is known as the Circuit Trails, or the Philadelphia Region’s ever-growing trail network, which includes the likes of the Schuylkill River Trail.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council also stated that the Liberty Bell Trail is envisioned to intersect with the Powerline Trail, which goes from east to west through Montgomery County and then on into Bucks County. The Liberty Bell Trail is then expected to travel south into Norristown, and eventually link to the Schuylkill River Trail, which will help open up recreational opportunities for those in the Philadelphia and Valley Forge areas.

As part of the current feasibility study, stakeholders are in the midst of assessing any recent changes along the planned trail route, exploring any possible alternatives, and making recommendations for a preferred alignment, according to information provided by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

It is anticipated that the study will wrap up by early 2022.

During the Oct. 7 open house, attendees will be briefed on the proposed trail alignments within Upper Gwynedd, Lansdale and North Wales, and they will have an opportunity to provide feedback on trail location, amenities, next potential steps and any future engagement efforts, according to information about the upcoming session.

The open house will take place Oct. 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Upper Gwynedd Township Building at 1 Parkside Place in North Wales.

More information about the Liberty Bell Trail can be found here.