A Big Step Forward for the Valley Forge Gateway Trail

There’s a new path forward in Upper Merion Township.

On September 2, more than 60 business leaders, nonprofit reps, elected officials and neighbors gathered at Recharge Park in King of Prussia for the official launch of the Valley Forge Gateway Trail Partnership, a new coalition working to turn a long-imagined trail connection into reality.

If you haven’t heard of the Valley Forge Gateway Trail yet, here’s the quick version: it’s a proposed 2.8-mile, seven-segment multiuse trail that would link the Chester Valley Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail through Upper Merion Township. Small on paper, huge in impact. Once built, it would close one of the most significant gaps in the 500+ mile Circuit Trails network and create safer, easier connections to Valley Forge National Historical Park, local neighborhoods, employers, shops and everything in between.

The Partnership itself is 27 public, private and community organizations deep, led by King of Prussia District with support from the William Penn Foundation. The launch event brought out State Senator Amanda Cappelletti, State Representative Tim Briggs, Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors Chair Tina Garzillo, William Penn Foundation’s Michele Perch, Circuit Trails Coalition Chair Justin Dennis and King of Prussia District’s Eric Goldstein and Rachel Ammon.

Goldstein summed up why a coalition this size matters. “Projects of this scale only happen when people come together around a shared vision,” he said. “The Partnership brings together an incredible group of public, private and community organizations, and that collaboration is what will ultimately move the Valley Forge Gateway Trail from vision to reality.”

And the numbers back up the excitement. The Circuit Trails Coalition has ranked this trail segment the number one priority in the region for improving access to parks and recreation and the top priority on the entire Pennsylvania Circuit for connecting people to jobs.

Along with the official launch, the Partnership rolled out something fun: Forging the Path Forward, a public art campaign meant to get people talking about the trail and picturing what it could become. Keep an eye out for colorful, repurposed bicycles popping up along local trails, the proposed route and other spots around Upper Merion Township. Spot one? Snap a selfie and submit it through the Forging Your Path Photo Challenge between September 5 and 30 for a shot at a grand prize.

This is just the start. The Partnership has more planned, including advertising campaigns, community events, media outreach and volunteer opportunities, all aimed at building the kind of momentum a project like this needs to get from proposal to pavement.

Want to follow along or get involved? Head to vfgatewaytrail.com for the latest.