The Friends of the

Cynwyd Heritage Trail

Site is maintained by Bryan Shipenberg of bamdezign.com

2010 Proposed
cleanup dates:

Jan: 15/16/17
Feb: 13/14
March: 20/21

The Township sponsors weekend workdays once a month. Workdays are on both Saturday and Sunday of the work weekend from 8:45 to 12:30. The Township will provide tools and materials,
and the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail provide support for the workdays including refreshments as well as give-aways.

Please email info@cynwydtrail.org
for cleanup information.

Friends of the Trail

Township of Lower Merion:
www.lowermerion.org

Lower Merion
Historical Society:
www.lowermerionhistory.org

West Laurel Hill Cemetery:
www.forever-care.com

Ivy Ridge Trail:
www.ivyridgetrail.org

Bicycle Coalition:
www.bicyclecoalition.org

Neighborhood Club
of Bala Cynwyd:
www.balacynwyd.org

Boy Scouts, Bala Troop 1:
http://bala_one.tripod.com/bala1/

BAM Dezign:
https://bamdezign.com/~bamdezi1

Schuylkill River Park Alliance
http://riverparkalliance.org/drupal/

BalaAvenue.com
www.balaavenue.com

Township Link to Cynwyd Trail
http://lowermerion.org/trail

Montgomerynews.com

Cynwyd Trail Moving Along

Published: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

By Bernard J. Scally

One of the major goals of the Schuylkill River Trail is to connect communities. One spur, the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, will link Manayunk with its suburban neighbors across the river utilizing the Manayunk Viaduct.....

Read Full Article

MLK WEEKEND BRINGS TREMENDOUS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT TO THE CYNWYD TRAIL

A truly a great experience for all who came down to support the FRIENDS OF THE CYNWYD TRAIL clean up effort this past holiday weekend, January 16-18.

Over 100 volunteers spread out along the trail from Barmouth to nearly the bridge. More than 50 volunteers from St. Joe's University and several cub scout troops helped to clean trash, cut trees, clear brush and of course - enjoy pizza!

FOCHT members were out helping in force including Sarah Francis, Jerry Francis, Nancy Friedlander, Kevin Burns Collinson, George Manos, Nancy Winkler and yours truly, Bryan Shipenberg.

Also in attendance were: head of the Shade Tree Commission, Harriett Ruffin; Kim Douglass (Trail Designer); Kate Gaeler (Friends of Linwood Park) and Pete Hoskins of West Laurel Hill Cemetary. Chris Leswing was there leading us all.

I urge everyone to take a walk (or drive your SUV) on the trail and admire the progress. It is amazing!

A huge "thanks" to everyone - we are grateful for your support!

Visit our facebook page

MLK Jr. Day of Service
set for Cynwyd Trail

BALA CYNWYD — As part of the Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Lower Merion Township will sponsor a workday at the Cynwyd Heritage Trail from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to sign in between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at the former Barmouth Train Station behind Mamma’s Pizza at the end of Levering Mill Road. The township will provide supervision, tools and gloves and the goal will be to remove debris, vines and invasive species along the trail.

A list of Cynwyd Heritage Trail workdays scheduled for 2010 has been issued as follows:

-- Monday, Jan. 18: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (four hours)

-- Saturday, Feb. 13: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (four hours)

-- Sunday, Feb. 14: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (four hours)

-- Saturday, March 20: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (four hours)

-- Sunday, March 21: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (four hours)

For all workdays, volunteers are asked to meet at the former Barmouth Station at end of Levering Mill Road and to park on that road. Participants should dress comfortably; water, tools and gloves will be supplied. Events postponed due to inclement weather will be rescheduled. More information is available by e-mailing cleswing@lowermerion.org or visiting www.cynwydheritagetrail.com or www.cynwydtrail.org.

Past Perfect
Profiles of some of the more compelling players in the
ongoing battle to keep history alive on the Main Line.

By J.F. Pirro Published December 18, 2009 at 03:27 PM

Right on Track
A crew of supporters makes a new path for Cynwyd Train Station.

See full article

The latest designs from
Studio Hanes / Studio Gaea

The drawings for each scheme we presented 11/17 at Community Mtg. #2.

View attachment

Community Meeting

Please join your fellow neighbors and the trail designers, the team of Studio Bryan Hanes / Studio Gaea, in the Conservatory at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd
on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm for a Community Meeting to
discuss the future design of the trail. All are welcome - this will be YOUR trail -
please come and participate in the discussion of the region's next great public open space! The meeting will start promptly so please plan accordingly.

View "TRAIL TALK",
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail Newsletter, Fall 2009 issue

Click on the image below to view

Trail Cleanup Information

Due to incoming bad weather the Saturday and Sunday October 17th and 18th workdays have been postponed!

Re-scheduled for October 24th and 25th

Both days we will start at 8:30 am and meet at Barmouth Station at the end of Levering Mill Road. Please park at the top of the hill because we will be working around the parking lot.

Community Input Meetings

There are a series of Design Focus Groups for this fall which are open to the public
at large. These meetings will focus on the design aspect of the trail. All groups will meet at West Laurel Hill Cemetery

#2 Childrens Workshop • Sunday Oct 25th • 12 Noon to 3pm
#3 Adult Workshop • Sunday November 1 • 12 Noon to 3pm
#4 Tuesday November 17th • 6:30-7:30pm
#5 Community Meeting • Tuesday January 26 • 6:30 to 7:30pm

Cynwyd Heritage Trail Happy Hour

On Friday October 2nd the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant will be hosting a Cynwyd Heritage Trail Happy Hour from 5 until 6:30pm. Trail designers Kim Douglas and Bryan Hanes will be leading a discussion/workshop about cross river connections and how the Cynwyd Heritage Trail can help reclaim the Pencoyd/Manayunk waterfronts for recreational/open space use. Afterwards there will be a sunset walk back to Cynwyd Station on the trail.

More event information is available at destinationschuylkillriver.org.

Trail Design Moving Forward

A collaboration between two studios, Studio Bryan Hanes and Studio Gaea, has been named the landscape designer for the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. Known not only for their elegant designs, but also for their commitment to sustainability and civic engagement, Studio Bryan Hanes/Studio Gaea will be integral in developing the Trail so that it becomes a premier 21st century linear park and trail.

Cynwyd Trail Article in Main Line Times
(Front Page, August 20th)

Pictured on the trail near the Cynwyd Station are members of the board of directors of the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, from left: Nancy Winkler, president; her husband, Jay Bryan; Sarah Francis; Jerry Francis, who also serves as president of the Lower Merion Historical Society; Kathy Burns, secretary and volunteer coordinator; Bryan Shipenberg of BAM Dezign, who has designed the group’s Web site; and Steve Selinger.
Photo credit: Zoe Shipenberg

By Cheryl Allison

Lower Merion admits that when it handed out its first Emerald Necklace Award in 2006 it had a bit of an ulterior motive. Yes, the new honor would recognize someone who had played an important role in protecting or preserving precious open space in the township. But the hope was also that the example would inspire other community members to do the same.
Three years later the newest recipient is proof that that aim was right on target — and then some. The honoree is not an individual but a group, 70 members strong and growing.
In a ceremony earlier this month the board of commissioners named the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail 2009’s “jewel” in the area of open-space preservation....

Read full article

SCA crews help clean up the
Cynwyd Heritage Trail this summer

The Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and Lower Merion Township recently won a contract with the new Philadelphia office of the Student Conservation Association to work on the Cynwyd Trail for 6 weeks this summer from July to August. The Association works to engage kids of High School age into leadership and environmental stewardship training by having them gain hands-on experience under the supervision of crew leaders.

Emerald Necklace Presentation

August 5, 2009

The award (left), and a basket full of FOCHT goodies (right).

President of The Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail Nancy Winkler (right)
and Kathy Burns (left), presenting the basket of goodies to President of the Board
of Commissioners of Lower Merion Township Bruce Reed (center).

Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail to Receive Emerald Necklace Award
Award to be Presented at Agust 5th Board of Commissioners Meeting

$1.3 Million Received for Cynwyd Heritage Trail Township Awarded

One of the Largest Municipal Grants Under Montgomery County Open Space Program

WELCOME MESSAGE

Message From The President

Welcome to the website of the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. We are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who are dedicated to the long term success of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. Our mission is to promote the construction, maintenance and use of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and to undertake projects to enhance its recreational, natural and educational value through volunteer commitments of time, talents and fund raising and to provide for permanent amenities along the trail.

The Friends are a valued partner of the Township in supporting the development of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. We support volunteer activities related to clearing, landscaping and maintenance. We are building a membership base and fund raising to provide non-tax dollars to support environmentally sound landscaping and user amenities along the trail. We are out on the trail providing free labor to support the Township’s early reclamation efforts, prior to the actual construction of the trail. We are seeking to partner with many other successful organizations to enrich the experience on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The Lower Merion Historical Society has actively supported the trail development and has made many interesting discoveries, the Boy Scouts have adopted a portion of the trail and have spent endless hours cleaning and greening and the Lower Merion Schools are sending teams of volunteers to work on the trail.

We are fortunate that the Rails to Trails movement has come to Lower Merion Township in the form of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. You can walk the cleared trail now, and in a few short seasons, we expect a total transformation of this 2.5 mile linear park. This fall, we expect Lower Merion Township to begin a design process. The trail will be a haven of activity the moment it is opened. This trail will be a gem of the Lower Merion park system, a wide paved trail, with walking/running lanes and beautiful native trees and plantings enriching the environment and the trail experience. The trail will link communities and parks, providing community recreational and educational opportunities and serving as a safe connection to access regional trails, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to avoid dangerous traffic. It will bring our neighbors together, gardening, walking, cycling, bird-watching along the trail. This will enhance the health and well-being of all who partake. Imagine a safe place for our youngest citizens to learn to ride a bike, one of the most joyous experiences of childhood. Imagine community gardens and educational hikes about the rich industrial history along the trail. Imagine environmentally sensitive native plantings fostering the return of songbirds and wildlife. Imagine sighting a fox as you stroll along the trail one evening.

Please join us in our efforts to make this trail a reality. Please support us in our mission by joining the Friends or Make a Donation and consider Volunteering at one of our workdays. You can share your vision for the trail by participating in the public comment opportunities that will be announced later this year once the design is announced. The Cynwyd Heritage Trail is an investment in the strong community we already have, helping it to become an even more desirable place to live.

Thank you and I hope to see you on the trail!

Nancy Winkler

President, Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail

for info: info@cynwydtrail.org

for membership info: membership@cynwydtrail.org

for events info: events@cynwydtrail.org

for Bryan Shipenberg Design: bryan.shipenberg@comcast.net

Membership Form

	NEW! Map of the Sculkill River trail system and its connection to the Cynwyd Trail. Click on map for large view

	Become part of the design process Take the Community Survey online Access the survey online to share your thoughts and provide valuable feedback: click here

	Photos of the trail around the web Progress at the Station, July 2009 SCA second week on the CHT SCA first week on the CHT Mister Max
	Want to see the master plan? View the township website for more information on the trail and its process. click here
	Board of Directors President: Nancy Winkler Vice President: Lee Rudy Treasurer: Drew Ries Secretary: Kathy Burns Directors: Laurie Actman Stephanie Black Jay Bryan Mitchell Rose Steve Sellinger Sarah Francis Boris Kaplan Jerry Francis Bryan Shipenberg Ex Officio: Commissioner George T. Manos, Commissioner Paul McElhaney Commissioner Bruce D. Reed Contact Membership Jay Bryan Contact Webmaster Bryan Shipenberg Design

Montgomerynews.com

Cynwyd Trail Moving Along

MLK Jr. Day of Service set for Cynwyd Trail

Right on Track A crew of supporters makes a new path for Cynwyd Train Station.

Cynwyd Trail Article in Main Line Times (Front Page, August 20th)

Want to see the master plan?

MLK Jr. Day of Service
set for Cynwyd Trail

Right on Track
A crew of supporters makes a new path for Cynwyd Train Station.

Cynwyd Trail Article in Main Line Times
(Front Page, August 20th)