State and local officials broke ground on a new segment of the Delaware River Greenway Monday, a multi-use trail threading through Philadelphia and linking its residents and visitors to the rebounding Delaware River.

“The Port Richmond Trail will offer pedestrians, bicyclists and others safer, more aesthetically pleasing travel and access to the river,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretary John Giordano said, speaking at the groundbreaking at Pulaski Park along the trail. “DCNR is proud to unite with its partners behind the goal of connecting communities to the nearby the Delaware.”

DCNR consistently has invested in trailhead development and park renovations along the Delaware, including $200,000 for design of the Port Richmond Trail. This project, featuring new paving and landscaping, will stretch more than 1.5 miles.

“Not only do these projects serve as gateways to greater visitation and, in turn, economic growth along the river, they further promote the health and social benefits gained from improved recreation,” Giordano said. “As I often point out, our work across the city hits the triple bottom line -- improving environmental quality, neighborhood economic value, and the social fabric of our community.”

Port Richmond Trail construction is scheduled to be completed by September 2013.

It will modify an L-shaped section of Delaware and Allegheny avenues to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists traveling near the Delaware River.

It also will connect Monkiewicz Playground at Richmond St. and Allegheny Ave. with Pulaski Park at Delaware and Allegheny avenues. A green buffer will be planted with native trees, shrubs and plants.

The $3.3 million Port Richmond Trail is a key component of the Delaware River Greenway extending from the Philadelphia/Bucks County border to Spring Garden St. in center city. Developed by the nonprofit, Delaware River City Corp., the greenway is part of the national East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile multi-use “urban Appalachian Trail” stretching from Maine to Florida.

In addition to funding from the federal government and DCNR, the project is also funded by the City of Philadelphia, William Penn Foundation and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

10/29/2012