First-ever Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit headed to Philadelphia, April 4-6

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Leaders and advocates of active transportation and greenway and trail development will gather April 4-6 in Philadelphia, as the East Coast Greenway Alliance, a nonprofit leading the development of a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, will host the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit.

Highlights of the three-day event include:

• New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver delivering an opening keynote, “21st Century Parks and Public Space: What’s Next?” on Friday, April 5, at the University of Pennsylvania’s Houston Hall.

• The release of a study quantifying the impact of greenways and trails on the greater Philadelphia area, created by NV5/Econsult on Friday, April 5.

• Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources; and Patty Elkis, Planning Director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, speaking on the value of the region’s greenways and trails on Friday, April 5.

• A panel of local greenway leaders moderated by Andrew Johnson, director of the watershed protection program with the William Penn Foundation Thursday, April 4, at Convene in Cira Centre.

• Twenty-five dynamic breakout sessions presented by greenway and trail professionals from Washington, D.C., to New York City and beyond on topics ranging from trail planning and design to funding to partnerships.

• Seven mobile workshops, including the Annual Philly Spring Cleanup at the Schuylkill Banks and multiple bike rides and walks on the local trail network.

“We are holding this first-ever Summit in Philadelphia to celebrate the city and region’s national leadership in developing the East Coast Greenway and other trail networks. Leaders from Washington D.C., to New York understand that trails and greenways are good for the environment, good for our health, bring economic development and build community engagement,” says Dennis Markatos-Soriano, East Coast Greenway Alliance executive director. “Gathering at the Summit gives us the opportunity to explore strategies for further advances throughout the region.”

Nearly 250 attendees from 19 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada will attend next week's event. For full Summit information visit: greenway.org/midatlanticsummit2019.