PA Environmental Council, Partners Receive $100,000 Take Me to the River Grant

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council was among the 13 organizations in the Philadelphia region to receive funding from the Take Me to the River grant program.

 

The program, administered by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and funded by the William Penn Foundation, awarded $1 million to capital projects, planning projects and programming events. The selected projects help improve the riverfront and create a sense of place.

 

"The Council has been working for nearly a decade to create access for the citizens of Philadelphia to the riverfronts," said Patrick Starr, Senior Vice President of PEC. "PEC's projects will help to accomplish this - one by creating a trail linking people to the Schuylkill and the other by getting people involved with the Delaware River through activities and education. We are grateful to receive this validation of our commitment."

 

PEC received $83,000 for final design elements for the 58th Street Connector Greenway connecting the Schuylkill River with Cobbs Creek.

 

The 58th Street Connector will be an approximately 1.5-mile long greenway, which will connect the Schuylkill River, the Schuylkill River Trail extension and Bartram's Garden to Cobbs Creek and the Cobbs Creek Trail, through Southwest Philadelphia.

 

"When complete, this greenway will provide a new landscaped boulevard access route to an underutilized stretch of the Schuylkill River waterfront and to Bartram's Garden; and will provide a vital new green asset that will help revitalize one of Philadelphia's most under-served neighborhoods, Southwest Philadelphia," said Spencer Finch, Director of Sustainable Communities for PEC.

 

"What's really exciting is that this isn't just a community asset," said Finch, "this segment is part of the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway, which will provide a continuous off-road route for bikers and pedestrians from Maine to Florida."

 

PEC is working on several segments of the East Coast Greenway trail as it passes through Philadelphia. Segments through Southwest Philadelphia to the Heinz Wildlife Refuge are moving forward, and routes along the Delaware River in north Philadelphia and through Center City Philadelphia are currently being determined.

 

Additionally, PEC received Take Me to the River funding for a project proposed in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Fishtown Neighbors Association and Fishtown Area Business-Association to present two riverfront festivals.

 

The Shad Festival and the River City Festival aim to bring communities to the riverfront in celebration of the ecological, cultural and historic heritage of the Delaware River. PEC will organize boating and fishing opportunities for these two events, providing opportunities to get onto the water in a kayak or motor boat and a chance to catch fish as they migrate up the river in the spring.

 

Creating boating opportunities along the Delaware River is part of PEC's Tidal Delaware Water Trail project. PEC recently completed a map and guide of access points, safety considerations and ecological and cultural heritage sites along the river. Future plans for the trail include additional signage, stewardship activities, and river sojourns.

 

"River recreation is a unique opportunity for Philadelphians," said Starr."It fosters recreation close to home, and encourages people to become active stewards of the environment."