Phoenixville Celebrates Opening of Schuylkill River Trail

The plan to connect 130 miles of walking trail between Pottsville and Philadelphia inched a little bit closer with last week’s opening of Phoenixville’s two-mile segment of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Phoenixville community members and officials honored the new patch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 20 near the Foundry Building, but the resal party started Saturday with a full day of festivities. Visitors headed downtown to participate in an array of family events around the trail, including a bike tour, live music, chalk art and more.

“We are thrilled to open this new segment of the Schuylkill River Trail, which closes an important gap for SRT and connects our community to many miles of existing trails,” said Jean Krack, borough manager of the Borough of Phoenixville. “Not only does the trail link towns and neighbors to each other but it also connects our towns and neighbors to the riverfront, and that combination only strengthens our region as a healthier, more cohesive place to live, work and play.”

The project’s completion represents another step forward in the continued development of the Circuit, the region’s comprehensive trail network, which includes the Schuylkill River Trail. The newly developed Phoenixville trail serves as a recreation and transportation path for cyclists, runners and pedestrians and connects the local community to its neighboring towns.

As a key link in the region’s trail network and what has been recognized as a high-priority gap in the Schuylkill River Trail, the new segment connects the Phoenixville Borough to over 60 miles of finished trail, including a 26-mile stretch from Philadelphia to Phoenixville.

When complete, the full trail will total approximately 130 miles from Philadelphia to Pottsville, completing a large segment of the Circuit, which will ultimately include 750 miles of multi-use trails through greater Philadelphia and South Jersey.

“This is a very exciting time for the Schuylkill River Trail,” said Sarah Stuart, chairperson of the Circuit Coalition and deputy director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. “The Phoenixville segment is a key component of the Circuit, and we are fortunate to have the support of many public and private partners who believe in opening access to these core amenities throughout the region.”

Funding for the Phoenixville segment of the Schuylkill River Trail was provided by the William Penn Foundation, through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area managed by the Schuylkill River Greenway Association. The Phoenixville segment was designed by Ray Ott and Associates and Campbell Thomas & Company and constructed by the Borough’s Public Works Department.

(Photo: Ribbon cutting ceremony at Schuylkill River Trail/Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce)