The South to Christian Street Segment of the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia was dedicated on Sunday.

The event included a ceremonial opening of the gates and bridge that provide neighborhood access to this new section of the trail at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Roberts Center for Pediatric Research.

The City of Philadelphia, elected city and state officials including the Honorable James Kenney, Mayor, City of Philadelphia; Michael Di Berardinis, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia; Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia); Sen. Lawrence Farnese (D-Philadelphia); Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (D-Phila); Leslie Richards, Department of Transportation; Diane Kripas, Trails Manager, DCNR; Shawn McCaney, Executive Director, William Penn Foundation; Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and area neighbors were part of the opening.

"From the beginning, we worked hard to make sure our plans for a world-class research campus would benefit the surrounding community," said Doug Hock, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "This is why we donated land for public use and built a bridge that offers a connection to the Schuylkill River Trail. Today, we celebrate the realization of a vision that we have shared with our neighbors since the early stages of developing the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research."

"We are thrilled to open South to Christian, an important segment of the Schuylkill River Trail and the Circuit trail network," said Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. "With South to Christian opened, we are one step closer to historic Bartram's Garden and diverse neighborhoods in South and Southwest Philadelphia."

"The new trail is tucked in between an active railroad freight line and the Schuylkill River, and the new pedestrian bridge from the Children's Hospital Roberts Pediatric Research Center helps ensure neighborhood connectivity," added Hock.

The trail segment opened in late January 2018 and, with the addition of the newly constructed segment, extends the Schuylkill River Trail in Center City by 1,400 feet.

This segment, which is part of the regional trail network known as The Circuit, was constructed in two phases, which together cost approximately $5 million.

Grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PennDOT, the William Penn Foundation, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the City of Philadelphia and others helped to make the trail and greenway a reality.

To learn more about trails in the Philadelphia area, visit the Schuylkill River Trail and The Circuit website.

For information on trails statewide, visit the Explore PA Trails website and the Fish and Boat Commission Water Trails webpage.

[Posted: April 23, 2018]

4/30/2018