Friends of Cresheim Trail seek funds for feasibility study

By Ed Mahon

The Friends of Cresheim Trail, at a meeting last week, discussed ways to gain support from various community organizations to strengthen their application to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The group hopes to receive approval and aid in funding a feasibility study, costing roughly $40,000, according to member Bob Thomas. The applications must be sent in by October 13, 2004, but the Friends want it set to go by mid-September.

Thomas, who has successfully worked on restoring various trails, including the Perkiomen, outlined three major issues that needed to be studied: acquiring the land, planning the changes and constructing costs.

Even if the DCNR does grant the Friends approval and money, the Friends will still need to find other sources for funding, because the DCNR will only give 50% of the funds, according to Thomas.

Members of the Friends of the Cresheim Trail represent various organizations and communities, including Mount Airy USA, Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill, Montgomery County, Bucks County, the city of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, the Fairmount Park Commission and others.

The Friends of Cresheim Trail was formed with the purpose of extending the Cresheim Trail to connect different communities such as Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill — in the city of Philadelphia — and Cheltenham and Springfield townships in Montgomery County.

Restoration will not be finished for at least three or four years. But Thomas said the chances for restoring the trail are excellent because multiple counties and municipalities are involved.

“Applications from multiple counties go to the top of the [DCNR’s] list,” said Thomas.

Some of the organizations and communities the Friends must contact are Fairmount Park Commission, Cheltenham Township, PennDOT, and many others, including school districts and cemeteries.

The group also has to address the concerns of people who own the land, which is needed for the proposed trail.

The trail would connect communities in Philadelphia and Montgomery County to the parklands and the Green Ribbon Trail along the banks of Wissahickon Creek. Starting at Valley Green in Fairmount Park, the trail follows Cresheim Creek and the abandoned railroad grade through Philadelphia, Cheltenham and Springfield Townships. The trail would connect to the village center of Flourtown and finally Fort Washington State Park.

The proposed trail would also connect recreational facilities, such as the Wissahickon section of Fairmount Park, Fort Washington State Park and Springfield's Mermaid Park.

The proposed trail would also connect educational and research institutions including Arcadia University, Springfield High School, the New Covenant Campus and the Agricultural Research Institute.

Commercial centers, such as the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy business districts and Flourtown would also be connected.

Historic areas, such as the Chestnut Hill Historic District, Historic Germantown Avenue, Historic Bethlehem Pike, Fairmount Park and Fort Washington State Park would also be connected.

If you are aware of related efforts in developing part of the Cresheim Trail, or wish to become involved, contact Carl Shaifer at 215-242-8200 or e-mail him at cshaifer@hirshorn.com.