Congresswoman Schwartz and City Leaders Break Ground on 1.5-Mile Port Richmond Trail
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz joined city leaders, including State Senator Michael Stack; State Representative John Taylor; Councilman David Oh; Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation; and representatives from the Delaware River City Corporation (DRCC) and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), today to break ground on the Port Richmond Trail restoration project.
The 1.5-mile L-Shaped section of the Delaware and Allegheny Avenues trail along the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia will serve as a new recreation outlet for cyclists, runners and pedestrians, and will connect the local community to the river. Schwartz has been a leader in support of the revitalization of the North Delaware Riverfront, including having successfully secured over $40 million in federal investment to support efforts to improve our region’s trails and surrounding areas, with a focus on support for the North Delaware Riverfront.
“It is an honor to be here today to break ground on the Port Richmond Trail Restoration Project, a key part of revitalization efforts along the North Delaware Riverfront,” said Rep. Schwartz. “Reconnecting Northeast Philadelphia communities with the Delaware River matters deeply to the residents of Northeast Philadelphia, for both improved recreational opportunities and to build towards greater local economic development efforts.”
“It is our hope that the new Port Richmond Trail, and the planned future restorations along the North Delaware, will provide more opportunities for Philadelphians to recreate on and around the river and take advantage of this expansive and virtually untapped natural resource,” said former Congressman Robert Borski, Chair of the Delaware River City Corporation Board of Directors. “The riverfront has enormous potential for mixed-use, commercial and residential development, as well as opportunities for improving port and industrial facilities, and we remain committed to making sure the riverfront reaches its full potential for all these uses.”
“At last area residents from Port Richmond or visitors to the region will be able to safely explore this very distinctive industrial stretch of the Delaware River,” said Patrick Starr, Executive Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “From fishing at the rebuilt Pulaski Park, to observing the huge port cranes at work and seeing the incredible view of the Betsy Ross and Delair Bridges as they soar above the river, the shoreline will be more accessible and accommodating.”
“Aside from being an important connector and a part of a growing regional network, this project shows that if we can green up a gritty landscape like this and create a high-quality recreational experience, we can replicate this anywhere in the city,” said Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Schwartz was instrumental in securing a $23 million federal TIGER grant to repair, reconstruct, and improve 16.3 miles of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in order to complete a 128-mile regional network in six counties around Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. This regional transportation network will have a significant impact on the Philadelphia metropolitan economy, creating jobs in the metropolitan area and enhancing the quality of life for our residents. A portion of the TIGER grant, $1.74 million, will go to support the Port Richmond Trail Restoration Project.
The Port Richmond Trail is one of the first of many planned construction projects that will eventually bring new life to the Delaware Riverfront and help connect the many now isolated pieces of The Circuit, Greater Philadelphia’s multi-use trail network. The Circuit currently includes 250 miles of trails throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania and plans are in place to connect existing trails and add an additional 500 miles to the system in the coming years. As a key link in the region's trail network, the Port Richmond Trail will serve as a new recreation outlet for cyclists, runners and pedestrians; connect to the Tacony Creek Trail via newly-installed bike lanes on Castor Avenue; and will also offer the community a direct connection to the waterfront via the refurbished Pulaski Park.
The urban trail renewal project, which is slated to be complete by September 2013, includes:
- Removal of some of the existing pavement on wide sections of Delaware Avenue, narrowing crossings to make them safer for pedestrians;
- Construction of a 12’- wide asphalt, multi-use recreational trail on the river (east) side of Delaware Avenue and the south side of Allegheny Avenue;
- Creation of a green-space buffer that will serve to protect pedestrians from traffic, creating a new canopy of green all along this industrial riverfront; and
- More than 200 shade and flowering trees, approximately 300 shrubs and 1,500 grasses and perennials that will greatly improve growing conditions for the plant material.