Alliance board meets in Philadelphia, connecting local roots to our national project
With opportunities to explore the growing East Coast Greenway in Philadelphia, connect with local community leaders and plan for continued impact from Maine to Florida, the East Coast Greenway Alliance held its spring 2026 Board of Trustees meeting May 8-9.
“The weekend was a powerful opportunity to connect our Board members with the East Coast Greenway community in Philadelphia,” Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano said. “It showcased the strong local impact of our 3,000-mile vision, while giving us the chance to celebrate our progress in 2026 and plan for even greater impact ahead.
The meaningful weekend got underway with a Friday evening community walk on Philadelphia’s newest stretch of the Greenway, the beautiful Christian to Crescent bridge on the Schuylkill River, as well as a visit to an under-construction bridge that will soon link to Bartram’s Garden by trail. The group of 15 was guided by two longtime leaders of East Coast Greenway progress in the region: Philly-based Mid-Atlantic Manager Daniel Paschall and Board Vice Chair Spencer Finch, who designed key regional segments and led the effort to secure major federal funding.
The walk was followed by dinner and a panel discussion on how the East Coast Greenway is transforming lives, which included insights from Pennsylvania-based Trustee Claire Grega and Board Chair Regina Yan.
On Saturday morning, Alliance staff members and Trustees joined the Eastwick Community Day festivities, including the ribbon cutting of new flood monitoring technology adjacent to the Greenway and on nearby Darby and Cobbs Creeks. The Alliance team learned about recent Cobbs Creek Trail progress in the neighborhood and enjoyed connecting with key partners in the region from leaders at the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania Rep. Regina Young, longtime resident and community advocate Brenda Whitfield, to the Clean Air Council and the nearby John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
The weekend concluded with the semi-annual board meeting, where trustees reviewed the East Coast Greenway’s progress in 2026 and reaffirmed their commitment to boldly advancing the Alliance into its 35th anniversary year beginning this fall.
Greenway Stories
News, features and more from throughout the East Coast Greenway corridor
