DEP Secretary John Quigley joined other state and local officials on September 2 to celebrate the Schuylkill River Trail being named USA TODAY’s Best Urban Trail.

(Photo: DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, PENNDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and DEP Secretary John Quigley.)

A panel of travel and outdoor recreation experts nominated 20 trail systems located near major U.S. cities and turned to USA TODAY and 10 Best readers to vote for their favorite trail.

The Schuylkill River Trail’s win is a testament to its popularity for locals and tourists alike, and the region’s dedication to improving access to multi-use trails and public space.

The Schuylkill River Trail is the region’s most heavily used multi-use, recreation and commuter trail and maintains a strong reputation as not only a local amenity, but a tourist attraction as well.

When complete, the Schuylkill River Trail is projected to be nearly 130 miles long, connecting five Pennsylvania counties, and will be a key corridor of the Circuit Trail Network and the East Coast Greenway.

Currently 300 miles of completed trails, the Circuit is a planned 750-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting people to jobs, communities, parks, and rivers in the Greater Philadelphia Region.

To view a video about the project, visit DEP's YouTube Channel.

NewsClips:

Appalachian Trail: A Walk In The Words Worth Taking

Appalachian Trail: A Walk In The Woods Movie

LHVA Seeks $14.2M Grant To Close Lackawanna Trail Gaps

Land Trust Sponsors Hike At Thomas Darling Preserve In Luzerne

Park Service Considering Trail, Other Changes At Delaware Water Gap

Op-Ed: Tell Congress To Keep PA Beautiful, Support Land Conservation Funding

Editorial: Renew Land & Water Conservation Fund

(Reprinted from the Sept. 3 DEP News. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

9/7/2015