Cynwyd Heritage Trail Approved, But Work Has Just Begun

Just like the city of Philadelphia was connected to the world through the R6 line in 1884, soon it shall be again. The resurrection of this old rail link through Lower Merion is so important to us as a community that I simply invite you to take a few hours on a nice sunny day and walk the trail. It's hard to imagine that you are 10 minutes from the city of Philadelphia.

The concept of the Cynwyd Trail was originally proposed in 2004-2005 in conjunction with the preparation of the Township "Open Space" Plan. The fundamental ideas for the Cynwyd Trail have been developed through a unique public process that has included review by the township's Open Space Committee, televised public meetings, roundtables with adjacent landowners, several volunteer workdays and dozens of organized community trail walks. As a result of this hands-on approach, many of the inquires about a rail trail have been addressed. The Cynwyd Trail creates synergy with the various local, regional and statewide trail and greenway planning efforts that are underway, and the profound potential for knitting together these myriad individual trail segments into a continuous and coherent regional trail network.

The Cynwyd Trail was identified as a medium priority project in the 2006 Lower Merion Township Open Space and Environmental Resource Protection Plan. At the time the Open Space plan was prepared there were many unknowns regarding SEPTA's plans for a revitalization of the Cynwyd Station, the rail corridor, status of the Manayunk Bridge, development of the Pencoyd Waterfront and the availability of several key parcels including Westminster and Spaventa.

In 2007 the township formed an Open Space Committee, also referred to as the Emerald Necklace Committee, to identify projects eligible for funding through the Montgomery County Open Space program. The committee focused on identifying open space projects and open space acquisitions to connect existing open spaces together to create an 'Emerald Necklace' of linked open spaces throughout the township and along the Schuylkill River. The Emerald Necklace Committee sought to maximize the township's open space investments by implementing the broad goals of the Open Space Plan through targeted projects that complemented previous investments and existing policies. Around this time, organized Township sponsored cleanup work days had begun.

In the fall of 2008, "The Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail" formed as a nonprofit 501c3 organization. A group of volunteers who would promote the construction, cleanup, maintenance and use of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and undertake projects to enhance its recreational, natural and educational value through volunteer commitments of time, talents and fundraising, to provide for permanent amenities along the Trail, and to support connectivity to the Greater Philadelphia Greenway Community.

Just this past week shortly before 2:30 a.m. Dec. 16, by an 8-5 vote, Lower Merion commissioners adopted a 2011 budget that will include the Capital Improvement Program for 2011-2016. The funds available for construction of Phase 1 of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail are within this budget.

At this point, some time in the late winter or early spring of 2011 the Cynwyd Trail construction will break ground. Upon completion it will support a recreational trail that will provide direct pedestrian and bicycle connections between residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, public parks and institutional properties that are currently physically separated by winding roads, steep hills and large properties that characterize the Bala Cynwyd area.

Additional plans to open the Manayunk bridge to pedestrian traffic, and connecting the Cynwyd Trail through the Ivy Ridge trail and on into the existing Philadelphia trail network are currently ongoing. Check the various websites like www.cynwydtrail.org and www.lowermerion.org for updates. For a historical perspective please visit the Lower Merion Historical website at www.lowermerionhistory.org.

For the past three years Chris Leswing (PP, AICP, Assistant Director of Planning) has enthusiastically led this vision by coordinating numerous groups of volunteers efforts in cleaning, pruning, cutting, digging and hauling along various points of the trail on monthly work days. His exhausting efforts have made this trail possible.

This fantastic journey has just begun, and you can show your support by getting involved. Come out to cleanups, visit the web sites of various local trail organizations, Lower Merion Township and check out the facebook page of the "Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail".

See you on the trail,

Bryan Shipenberg

Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail