PA Environment Digest

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Discover 100s Of Miles Of Happy On Philadelphia Region Trails

On April 15, a wide group of advocates unveiled the new website and branding for The Circuit Trails. Formerly known just as the “Circuit,” the new name, logo, and collateral materials reflect an effort to promote the regional trail network to a broad group of trail users and supporters.

Philadelphia Managing Director and former Pennsylvania DCNR Secretary Mike DiBerardinis took to the podium at the The Circuit Trails Opening Weekend Kick-Off event.

At the introductory press conference to celebrate the launch, government leaders from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along with civic officials, corporate representatives, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin, and nearly 100 cyclists and trail fans joined together for the unveiling of the new Proud to Trail campaign.

The group also challenged people across the region to not only get out on the trails, but to share their trail stories as part of the new campaign.

But the press conference was just the start of a weekend-long series of events, including two sponsored by PEC.

As part of PEC’s Schuylkill River Towns Program, Program Manager for Trails and Recreation Lizzie Hessek developed a “Passport to the River Towns” event.

Families or individuals could pick up a physical passport at a variety of business in Conshohocken, Phoenixville, or Norristown. Within the passport were businesses or locations the participants had to visit to get a reward.

If participants accurately followed the map to each stop, they would receive Circuit Trails memorabilia, as well as discounts for those enjoying the event.

In addition to the Schuylkill River Towns event, PEC also led a “Light Bright Ride” on April 16. Riders who took part in the unique nighttime bike event throughout Philadelphia received flashing LED lights that clipped onto the spokes of their bike wheels. When the wheels started to turn the lights lit up patterns on the wheel.

With over 30 riders, the effect was magical on a darkened stretch of the Schuylkill River Trail. Intended to highlight the variety of ways in which riders could be “Proud to Trail,” the Light Bright Ride was a one-of-a-kind event that engaged a wide range of cyclists and trail enthusiasts.

Proud to Trail and the new The Circuit Trails website were designed to amplify and unify all of the trail advocacy and programming work that is happening across the nine-county Circuit Trails region that spans Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern/Central New Jersey.

Currently more than 300 miles of Circuit Trails are complete, while another 50 are in development. A total of approximately 750 miles of interconnected trails are planned.

PEC is working on projects across the Circuit Trails including the East Coast Greenway, the D&L Trail, the Schuylkill River Trail, and many more.

For more information, contact Lizzie Hessek, PEC Program Manager for Trails & Recreation at 215-545-4570 or send email to: lhessmiller@pec.org.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

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