Last Thursday ELAINE SCHAEFER from Schuylkill River Greenways spoke to the club about the expansion and maintenance of the vast network of paths in our area. The non-profit organization that she heads, is based in Pottstown, and although her group has direct charge of the area from Redding to Fracksville, they provide coordination activities for the whole Schuylkill River pathway system that runs from Philadelphia up 120 miles to Carbon County. The path system is part of a designated Heritage Area, which is a designation given to areas that share common characteristics (the river) and have been essential to the areas history since our country's founding. 

 

 

The Greenways' mission is to connect people to the river and trails and hopefully encourage them to become stewards of the area and support its development. Elaine outlined several of the projects currently being carried out in this region including a major $3.5 million, 6 mile extension at the top of the trail in Frackville that included moving an abandon bridge across the county for use in the project. She highlighted several areas that have recently been upgraded including one in Redding, and in Auburn, encouraging us to try them out.

They sponsor several events throughout the season, featuring kayaking, biking, and hiking, their signature event being the Schuylkill River Sojourn, a 7-day kayak trip down the river.

They have a capital fund campaign under way for $5 million to be used to set up an endowment fund for continual maintenance funding.

For further information, check out their website at.    schuylkillriver.org

Thank you, Elaine