On May 15th, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department along with the Delaware River City Corporation cut the ribbon on Phase 1 of the Kensington and Tacony (K&T) Trail.
The 1.2 mile trail begins at the Frankford Boat Launch and continues to Lardners Point Park under the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (see the map below). Ribbon cutters included State Reps. John Taylor and Mike Driscoll, Former Congressman Bob Borski and 6th District Councilmember Bobby Henon.
The map shows the completed sections of the Delaware River Trail north of Spring Garden St along with a suggested on-street bike routing to connect to each trail section. At Lardner’s Point Park it is possible to connect with the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge sidewalk to New Jersey.
The K&T is another link in the Delaware River Trail and is part of the Circuit Trails and the East Coast Greenway. The trail is built on the right of way of the old Kensington & Tacony Rail Line which ran on the banks of the Delaware River with the dramatic backdrop of the Tacony-Palmyra and Betsy Ross Bridges along with the mostly wooded setting on the New Jersey side of the river.
K&T Trail looking north towards the Tacony Palmyra Bridge
Phase 2 of the K&T starts construction later this year and will extend the trail to the Tacony Boat Launch on Princeton St.
Two other sections Delaware River Trail have been completed. The Port Richmond/Bridesburg Trail between Allegheny Ave and Orthodox St and the Baxter Trail from Pennypack on the Delaware to the Pleasant Hill Park Fish Hatchery. However a half mile section of the Baxter Trail between the Philadelphia Fire Academy and Pennypack on the Delaware is not yet open to the public due to concerns of the Philadelphia Police which manages an adjacent gun range. A study is taking place to see if the current configuration is safe for trail users.
Phase 2 of the K&T starts construction later this year and will extend the trail to the Tacony Boat Launch on Princeton St. Two other sections Delaware River Trail have been completed. The Port Richmond/Bridesburg Trail between Allegheny Ave and Orthodox St and the Baxter Trail from Pennypack on the Delaware to the Pleasant Hill Park Fish Hatchery.
However, a half mile section of the Baxter Trail between the Philadelphia Fire Academy and Pennypack on the Delaware is not yet open to the public due to concerns of the Philadelphia Police which manages an adjacent gun range. A study is taking place to see if the current configuration is safe for trail users.
Unfortunately the short connection between Lardner’s Point and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge sidewalk (on the map) entrance is neither bicycle nor pedestrian friendly. This could be easily remedied by striping bike lanes and restoring the sidewalks on Elbridge St.