On the Trail, Use Common Sense, Be Courtious and Be Alert.

Police frequently patrol the Trail, as well as the Fairmount Park Rangers and Center City District Service Agents.   If you ever feel threatned or observe criminal activity, call 911.  If you observe "Quality of Life" issues (homeless sleeping in the Park, vagrancy, etc.) please call the Community Relations Officer of the 9th District, Troy Brickell at 215-686-3089. 

While on the trail, KEEP RIGHT.
Remember the Trail is shared by Pedestrians, Runners, Dog Walkers, Bicyclists, Skaters, Skate Boarders and Fishermen.

Need of Soft Surface Running Path along side of Macadam Trail

On November 12, Free Schuylkill River Park, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and several members of Philly Runners sent a letter to the Fairmount Park Commission regarding the need for a running path to be incorporated into the future landscaping of the Park.  Below is the text of the letter and images of the areas already created by runners.  Unfortunately, Fairmount Park rejected this request in a reply letter sent March 13, 2005, (read the letter here).

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November 12, 2004

Mark Focht

Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program

Fairmount Park Commission

One Parkway, 10^th Floor

1515 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA   19102

Dear Mark,

Although we raised this issue with you, SRDC and Margie Ruddick Landscape several times this past summer, we thought it would be useful to reiterate in writing our position on having a running path be incorporated into the landscaping of the Schuylkill River Park Trail. 

Runners have created paths along most of the Park’s trail, as the enclosed page of images documents.  The running path helps move runners and cyclists off the macadam, making more room for other pedestrians.  Many runners also prefer to run on a softer surface to protect against the trail’s hard surface. 

As the landscaping plan moves through its final stages, we urge you to incorporate or accommodate the existing paths into the landscaping of Schuylkill River Park.  Avoiding the planting of trees or shrubbery along the running path would be at the very least an important first step.  We think that any plantings on these paths will eventually be destroyed and a waste of resources. 

We hope that you will consider this request and respond to us with a plan for how the Fairmount Park Commission will incorporate a running path along the Schuylkill River Park trail.

Sincerely,

Sarah Clark Stuart, Russell Meddin and Perry Benson

Free Schuylkill River Park

www.freetheriverpark.org

Alex Doty

Executive Director

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Individual Members of Philly Runners

Kevin Gruenfeld, co-founder

Sari Gold

Peggy McGarry

Stacy Feil.

Seth Weiss

            Michael Dobres

Cc w/enclosure:

            Karen Borski, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Commission

            Louise Turan, Schuylkill River Development Corporation

            Joseph Syrnick, Streets Department

            Chris Mendel, Margie Ruddick Landscape