East Coast Greenway Connecting Urban Centers, Train Stations and Greenways in Northern Delaware

East Coast Greenway

• Connecting Urban Centers, Train Stations and Greenways in Northern Delaware

• Delaware Trail Summit - February 25, 2010 On the Map: Regional & Long Distance Trails 

Trail linking 25 major cities along the eastern seaboard

• Trail linking 25 major cities along the eastern seaboard

• An “Urban Appalachian Trail”

• 3,000 miles from Calais, ME to Key West, FL

• Grass-roots trail, made up of locally owned and managed trails

Criteria

• Off road

• Firm surface

• Easily navigated by a touring bicycle or a wheelchair
• May be paved or a fine stone dust surface or other natural surface

• Publicly accessible

• 12 foot wide preferred, but flexibility is allowed in constrained locations

• Avoid steep grades and steps

• Avoid areas that are unpleasant or uninteresting in favor of route that is pleasant, varied and scenic

East Coast Greenway Delaware

• 1998: Delaware committee established

• Refined preliminary Delaware route
• Previously planned route bypassed DE
• Committee made up of DelDOT, WILMAPCO, State Parks, Delaware Greenways, and Wilmington

• 2000-2004: Feasibility Plan for New Castle Co. and Cecil Co., MD developed

Implementing the Greenway

• Partnership with New Castle County to coordinated greenway construction with development

• Coordination with DelDOT roadway projects

Designated trails

• Northern Delaware Greenway (8.5 miles)

Designated trails

• Wilmington Riverwalk (1.1 miles)

Designated trails

• New Castle Battery Park (1.1 miles)

Designated trails

• Newark Hall Trail/Route 72 (3.5 miles)

Next steps & future challenges

• Using $ from American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

• Filling in gaps—small and major

• Maintenance

• Continuing communication and connections with neighbors

• Signing route and promoting its use

Questions and Comments

• Heather Dunigan

• [e-mail]

• 302-737-6205 ext 118

• www.wilmapco.org/Eastcoastgreenway

• www.greenway.org