State Representative
Kenyatta Johnson, D-Phila.,
Member, Joint Legislative Air and
Water Pollution Control and
Conservation Committee
"The Schuylkill River Trail is the spine
of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area,"
Johnson said. "The completion of this
project will help to preserve the
Commonwealth's rich environmental heritage."
PHILADELPHIA, - Pennsylvania State Representative Kenyatta Johnson and the members of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee held a public hearing on the Schuylkill River Trail Initiative. Rep. Johnson, a new member of the House of Representatives and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, presided on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 9 a.m. at the Drexel University Paul Peck Center.
Opening remarks began by Senator Raphael J. Musto. Senator Musto remarks were followed by Member Representative Johnson in the Paul Peck Center located at 32nd and Market Streets.
The panelist expected to attend were Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., Rep. Kathy M. Manderino, D-Montgomery/Phila., state Sen. Ray Musto, D-Carbon/Luzerne, and Craig D. Brooks, Executive Director. Also State Rep. James R. Roebuck, D-Phila. and Rep. Edward Young, D-Phila. were in attendance.
The purpose of the hearing was to gather information on the Schuylkill River Trail, located in the greater Philadelphia region and surrounding counties, and garner support for state funding for the Schuylkill River Trail Development Initiative. The Schuylkill River Trail is a multi-purpose trail that will, when complete, extend from Philadelphia to Schuylkill County, running the entire length of the river. And the Schuykill River Trail will combine a possible bike trail co-existing of Chester Schuylkill County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Berks County, Philadelphia County sectors. And sections of the trail include the Montgomery County line to Birdsboro and from Gibraltar into Reading.
From L rear to R front: Rep. Edward Young, Rep. Babette Josephs,
Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Rep. Kenyatta Johnson,
Senator Raphael J. Musto, and Executive Director Craig D. Brooks.
Drexel University Paul Peck Center. Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Kurt Zwikl, Executive Director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and Ms. Sarah Clark Stuart of the Schuylkill River Park Alliance spoke about the need to gain financial support for 5 more miles or so river trail improvements. Zwikl, introduced to State Rep. Johnson and members the Schuylkill River Trail Coalition which includes: Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadephia, Schuylkill River Park Alliance, Schuylkill River Heritage Area, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Bartram's Garden, Manayunk Development Corporation and Schuylkill Project, East Falls Development Corporation, Friends of Ivy Ridge Trail, Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Fairmount Park and Schuylkill River Development Corporation.
State Rep. Roebuck.
Executive Director Brooks, and both State Rep J. Roebuck and Rep. Babette Josephs, as well as Rep. Edward Young asked the presenters questions about the river trail's suitableness for the near future.
In addition, Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District, Ms. Loree D. Jones, Executive Director, Manayunk Development Corporation, Mr. Charles Carmalt, Pedestrian & Pedestrian & Bicycle Coordinator Office of Transportation & Utilities, Mr. Mark Focht, Executive Director, Fairmount Park, Mr. Chris Leswing, Assistant Planning Director, Lower Merion Township, Mr. Michael Stokes, Assistant Planning Director, Montgomery County, and Mr. Bruce Reed, President, Lower Merion Township were scheduled as speakers during the agenda proceedings.
Councilman Jones, Jr.
The Schuylkill River Trail is the spine of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. The trail runs through a landscape that varies from urban and suburban neighborhoods to heavy industrial sites.
Rep. Johnson is concerned about the initial vision and building of this regional trail. Montgomery County took on the construction of the trail from the Philadelphia City line to Valley Forge National Historical Park. Chester County is working to complete the section of trail that will travel from Phoenixville to Pottstown. The Schuylkill River Greenway Assn., managing entity for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, has built sections of the trail in Berks County from the Montgomery County line to Birdsboro and from Gibraltar into Reading. More trail sections extending from Reading into Schuylkill County are planned or under study. Therefore Rep. Johnson and the members heard documentation and observed visualizations for the sole purpose of the proceedings to be successful for the House of Representatives and Schuylkill River Trail Coalition.
