2022 East Coast Greenway designations

In the midst of another record-setting year for the East Coast Greenway Alliance, 18 safe, traffic-free segments, many creating key connections to existing trails, were officially designated as part of the Greenway route. Eleven states added at least one new segment in 2022, up from eight in 2021. 

In addition, more than $200 million in public investment was committed to fund future Greenway expansion signifying continued momentum for our transformational project.

The new additions to the East Coast Greenway in 2022, from north to south, include: 

(Note: click the trail name to view each segment on the East Coast Greenway mapping tool)

1. Brewer Riverwalk - Phase 3, Brewer, Maine (0.2 miles): Following this latest extension, the scenic Brewer Riverwalk runs from South Main Street north to the Penobscot Bridge. The paved 0.8-mile trail follows the eastern bank of the Penobscot River and features cross-river views of Bangor, Maine, plus amenities, including lighting, benches and access to restaurants and a children’s garden.  

2. Cobbossee Trail, Gardiner, Maine (0.3 miles): The first phase of Gardiner, Maine’s Cobbossee Trail provides a safe, off-road connection to the Kennebec River Rail Trail, which continues north to Augusta. Once complete, it also will provide a connection to the proposed Merrymeeting Trail, an in-development, 26-mile multi-use trail linking Gardiner to Topsham and Brunswick, Maine. 

3. Cobbossee Trail - Phase II, Gardiner, Maine (0.1 miles): The second phase of Gardiner, Maine’s Cobbossee Trail connects Water Street to Arcade Street, extending a 0.4-mile, off-road connection to the Kennebec River Rail Trail, which continues north to Augusta. Once complete, it also will provide a connection to the proposed Merrymeeting Trail, an in-development, 26-mile multi-use trail linking Gardiner to Topsham and Brunswick, Maine.

4. Route 1 & Route 88 Intersection, Falmouth, Maine (0.1 miles): New sidepaths at this high-traffic Falmouth, Maine, intersection have created a safer way for bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate the intersection with traffic-separated facilities, designated striping and signage. These new sidepaths now provide a more comfortable active transportation connection to the popular Mackworth Island State Park. In this future, Falmouth could be connected to Portland and Auburn, Maine, via the proposed Casco Bay Trail.

5. Eileen Dondero Foley Drive Side Path, Portsmouth, New Hampshire (0.3 miles): The newly constructed Eileen Dondero Foley Drive Side Path is the first phase of the 17-mile New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway. This short segment will serve as the northern access point to the greenway, which will connect Portsmouth and Seabrook when complete. This segment will be added to the East Coast Greenway travel route when future phases are completed.

6. Northern Strand Trail, Lynn and Saugus, Massachusetts (3.6 miles): Featuring scenic marshes, bridges and trail-user amenities, these newest additions to the rapidly developing East Coast Greenway route between Boston and the New Hampshire border are not to be missed. Both new segments - 1.2 miles in Lynn and 2.4 miles in Saugus - are part of the 11.5-mile Northern Strand Trail project, which connects the communities of Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus and Lynn. 

7. Encore Boston Harborwalk, Everett, Massachusetts (0.5 miles): Located at the Encore Casino, this waterfront park provides a scenic view of the Mystic River and an important point of entry for the East Coast Greenway into Boston. This half-mile segment connects to existing paths along Boston Harbor and will be a key link to the proposed Mystic River Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge. When complete, the bridge will link the Northern Strand Trail and communities north of Boston to downtown Boston.

8. Cape Cod Rail Trail, Wellfleet, Massachusetts (0.8 miles): The latest addition to the Cape Cod Rail Trail extends the popular and scenic trail north from the Lecount Hollow Road trailhead. Now 25 miles in total, the Cape Cod Rail Trail links six charming coastal Massachusetts towns, as well as two state parks with campgrounds, and is part of the East Coast Greenway’s coastal route. 

9. Mattapoisett Rail Trail, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts (0.7 miles): The first phase of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail (Shining Tides, Phase 1B-1) links Mattapoisett Neck Road and Reservation Road via a paved pathway and scenic bridge over the Mattapoisett River. Another 0.5 miles are currently under construction. The trail is part of the envisioned 50-mile South Coast Bikeway, which aims to link Rhode Island to Cape Cod.

10. Bronx River Greenway - Starlight Park II, Bronx, N.Y. (0.7 miles): The latest phase of the Bronx River Greenway features two bridges and a 10- to 12-foot paved trail within Starlight Park. Part of the East Coast Greenway’s complementary route, this segment runs through the scenic park and connects East 174th Street with Westchester Avenue. When complete, the Bronx River Greenway will be a 10-mile linear park through the heart of one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in New York City, connecting the Bronx and Manhattan via trail.

11. Rancocas Creek Greenway, Delran & Riverside, New Jersey (0.9 miles): Part of the Delaware River Heritage Trail (DRHT) and the East Coast Greenway’s complementary route in New Jersey, the newly opened portion of the Rancocas Creek Greenway extends from Amico Island in Delran to Pennington Park in Delanco. This new segment continues Burlington County's momentum to develop its portion of the regional Circuit Trails network, as well as the DRHT, which will eventually connect Camden to Trenton, 45 miles along the Delaware River waterfront.

12. Cobbs Creek Connector Trail - Segment D, Philadelphia, (0.3 miles): Segment D of the Cobbs Creek Connector Trail stretches from the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to 84th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard in the Eastwick neighborhood. When complete, the Cobbs Creek Connector Trail will cover 2.5 miles, creating a key link in the East Coast Greenway and The Circuit Trails network in Southwest Philadelphia, connecting the Cobbs Creek Trail with the Heinz Refuge.

13. Elkton Road Pathway, Newark, Delaware, to Cecil County, Maryland (1.6 miles): This 1.6-mile multi-use path brings the Greenway in Delaware to 70% complete, linking Newark, DE to just over the Maryland-Delaware state border. The path includes two pedestrian bridges, connects to the nearly 200-mile Mason Dixon Trail (for hiking), and it expands the Newark Bikeways low stress bikeway network to connect homes, schools, parks, shopping, and offices together.

14. Chatham Bridge, Fredericksburg & Stafford County, Virginia (0.2 miles): Running along Virginia Route 3 Business in northeastern Virginia, the 1,100-foot Chatham Bridge crosses the Rappahannock River and links Fredericksburg to Stafford County, Virginia, and the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail. Nominated for a national award, the bridge was recently rebuilt with a 10-foot wide separated bike lane added on the south side. 

15. Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail, Suffolk, Virginia (1.6 miles): Phase II of the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail, which spans 1.6 miles from Suburban Drive to Nansemond Parkway, was recently completed and added to the East Coast Greenway’s complementary route in Virginia. Currently 5.5 miles of the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail are complete with future plans to link the existing segments.

16. Gorman Street Connector, Raleigh, North Carolina (0.4 miles): The Gorman Street Connector is a short, yet important, section of the East Coast Greenway, safely linking Raleigh’s Reedy Creek Greenway and Rocky Branch Trail, as well as the Meredith College and North Carolina State University campuses. Enhancements included a two-way separated cycle track, wide side paths on each end and safety improvements at two busy intersections. Learn move via this video from the 2022 ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the segment. 

17. St. Johns River-to-Sea-Loop West DeBary Connector, Debary, Florida (2.9 miles): The newest 2.9-mile stretch of the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop - from Highway 17 at Dirksen Drive to West Highbanks Road - extends the Loop to 51 paved miles in Volusia County. This connection makes it possible to ride from Titusville or Edgewater to DeLand's Lake Beresford Park - all on trail.

18. Indian Hills Recreation Area, Fort Pierce, Florida (1.0 miles): The SUN Trail at the Indian Hills Recreation Area is the latest addition to the East Coast Greenway in Fort Pierce, Florida. When fully complete, this 26-mile segment of the SUN Trail system will allow access to pristine beaches, an active deep-water port, the historic downtown Fort Pierce and a state park - in one of the fastest-growing areas of the country. Check out drone footage and interviews from the Jan. 2022 ribbon cutting. This segment will be added to the East Coast Greenway travel route when future phases are completed.