Shawmont Trail to Reopen Thursday

The City of Philadelphia will reopen the Shawmont Trail on Thursday for public use after $1.4 Million Shawmont Trail improvement project was completed this month.

The official ceremony opening the trail will be held on Thursday, March 28 starting at 10:30 a.m.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is slated to attend as well as Congressman Chaka Fattah and Councilman Curtis Jones.

Several local agencies worked on the project with the use of Federal funding including Philadelphia Parks & Recreation along with the Philadelphia Streets Department and Philadelphia Water Department, with funding from the federal government’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant, PennDOT, and the Federal Highways Administration.

The Shawmont Trail connects Philadelphia to Montgomery County via a one-mile, natural trail, used heavily by commuters, bicyclists, joggers, runners, hikers and families. The improved trail, from Port Royal Ave. to Montgomery County was widened an additional four-feet to comply with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s trail safety standards.

The new segment of trail from Shawmont Ave. to Port Royal Avenue, allows trail users a safe alternative to sharing the road with automobiles.  Shawmont Trail is part of the larger Schuylkill River Trail.