Parks & Trails

King of Prussia experienced remarkable growth over the past decade. In 2010, Upper Merion’s trail network was limited, with only a few disconnected paths. Today, the Township features a more connected and expanding system of recreational trails. Learn more about KOP’s growing trail network and explore what each park has to offer in our interactive StoryMap.

Valley Forge National Historical Park is where history and recreation meet. The 3,500 acre park preserves the site where General George Washington and the Continental Army endured a harsh winter during the American Revolution in 1777-1778. Visitors can explore the park’s scenic trails, historical structures and monuments, while learning about the pivotal moments that shaped the nation’s independence. In 2023, 1.9 million visitors walked, ran or biked its storied trails, supporting $27.2 million in local spending, 411 jobs and a $44.7 million boost to the economy. In 2026, the park will play a key role in America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and will also commemorate its 50th anniversary as a national park.

Completed in fall 2024, the award-winning First Avenue Linear Park is a vibrant, 1.25-mile multimodal trail that enhances connectivity and brings fresh energy to Moore Park. A collaborative effort between King of Prussia District and Upper Merion Township, the trail links 14 properties along First Avenue from North Gulph Road to Allendale Road and remains open to the public year-round. Visitors enjoy thoughtful amenities including solar-powered lighting, bus shelters, rain gardens, outdoor seating and even a ping-pong table. Managed by King of Prussia District, the park is activated with events and programs that engage the community throughout the year. Now, King of Prussia District has turned its attention to developing a 1.8-acre public multiuse space along First Avenue Linear Park called Recharge Park. Planned amenities include seating areas, vibrant landscapes, decorative paving, rock gardens, public art installations and recreational equipment. Final designs and construction is expected in 2025/2026.

In 2022, Upper Merion Township completed the final section of a 2.2 mile portion of trail that begins at Sullivan’s Bridge and ends at Abrams Mill Rd. & W. Beidler Rd. in Bob Case Park. This wide paved trail roughly parallels the southern side of the Schuylkill River and provides residents, employees and visitors of Upper Merion Township/King of Prussia direct access to VFNHP via a paved connection underneath Route 422.

In early spring 2023, Montgomery County completed an important 3.8 mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail, linking it to the existing 14.5 mile portion trail that now runs from Exton to King of Prussia passing through 3 municipalities, to the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. The link includes the construction of two new pedestrian bridges at South Gulph Road and Henderson Road and enhanced two existing bridges for increased bike and pedestrian use. With this extension, trail users can now walk or ride as far north as Green Lane Park and as far east as Philadelphia. The project was funded primarily by the Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ).

Upper Merion Township completed construction on the multimodal trail along Crow Creek in 2022. This new trail connects Walker Field to Bob Case Park and the Schuylkill River Trail West and features a continuous multi-use pathway with ADA-compliant crossings at roadway intersections. The trail joins residential, civic, retail centers and schools from King of Prussia Mall to W. Beidler Rd. Upper Merion received a grant from the state to create this two-mile multimodal corridor.

The Circuit Trails are a continuously-growing network of more than 300 miles of trails in the nine county region of southeastern Pennsylvania, and central and southern New Jersey, with a vision of more than 750 miles of interconnected trails. In the King of Prussia area, the Schuylkill River Trail, Chester Valley Trail, the Valley Forge Loop, and more are all a part of the Circuit. A group of more than 65 non-profit organizations, foundations and agencies are working together to advance completion of the Circuit Trails through the Circuit Trails Coalition. Together, the Coalition is working to create a multi-use trail network unlike any other in the country — connecting the urban, suburban and rural communities of Greater Philadelphia and providing trail users with 100s of miles of happy to explore.

Improving transportation options continues to be a major focus of our organization, as well as the Commonwealth, County and Township. One strategy to increase multimodal access for residents and commuters is trail development. Several important connections are already complete, with more being explored, as seen on the corresponding map created for the Moore Road Multimodal Trail and Linear Park Study. Within the past ten years, significant sections in and around Upper Merion were installed, including the Schuylkill River Trail West, Crow Creek Trail, Chester Valley Trail Extension and First Avenue Linear Park.