Perkiomen Trail Coalition |
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| Our mission:
To enhance and promote the beneficial aspects of the Perkiomen Trail. Members are organized to facilitate positive public relations among government, private citizens, landowners, recreational and environmental groups and to provide long term volunteer, maintenance and advisory services. |
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| Imagine |
| Walking along a quiet stream beside a steep wooded hillside or stopping to view open fields, small farms and quaint villages. | ||||
| This isn’t a scene from the past; it is the Perkiomen Trail as it is today! |
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The trail will run for approximately 20 miles connecting Valley Forge National Park to Montgomery County’s Green Lane Park. |
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| The Coalition needs your skills and support. Please join us in promoting and protecting this valuable recreational resource! |
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| AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
COMMUNITY…
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| The trail is significant because it links together county parks and historic areas. It also provides an opportunity for communities to preserve open space and a green ribbon of trail connecting those spaces. | ||
| Montgomery County is
in the process of opening the trail, primarily along the defunct Reading rail line. The
County will assume responsibility for development and maintenance of the trail as each
section is developed.
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| PERKIOMEN TRAIL COALITION… | ||
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We are a group of private and corporate citizens interested in working with the county to assure that the trail is completed in a timely way, and to preserve a positive outdoor experience. |
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| Historical Reflections | ||
| The Perkiomen Railway Company was founded after the Civil War and the first trains started running in 1868 on tracks from Oaks to Pennsburg. New transportation spurred development along the line which then extended to Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley. Mills, farms, and hydro power were abundant. In the 1920’s the Perkiomen Valley was a favored vacation spot utilizing the railroad for access to verdant nature. Expecting a continuing boom, the Reading Company bought the line in 1944. Instead, a decline in the recreational interests of the area occurred. Passenger service ceased in 1955. Twenty-one years later freight service ended. Montgomery County bought the right-of-way from the court after the Reading Company declared bankruptcy. Rail service was no more but it left its mark on the settlement pattern in the area. Again, 130 years later, growth in the area follows new transportation patterns and the planned path along the creek will serve as a recreational respite. |
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| Perkiomen Trail Coalition P. O. Box 23 Schwenksville, PA 19473 Email: perkiomentrail@aol.com |
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