A group of business, community, and government leaders advocating for a trail around and through Wilmington praised the announcement of federal funding for a new path connecting the Town of Newport with the Jack A. Markell Trail in Wilmington.
The $23 million grant to New Castle County enabling the construction of an approximately two-mile, ADA-accessible, shared-use trail from Newport to Wilmington makes completing a circular 16-mile path connecting jobs, schools, cultural institutions, and state and national parks possible.
Advocates for the “Wilmington Loop” say plans for the Newport River Trail leave a roughly 2.1-mile gap through the city’s East Side as a critical link in completing a community thoroughfare for the state’s largest city and surrounding suburbs.
A release stated that this segment would connect the existing Brandywine and Christina River trails, creating a conduit for every neighborhood in and around the city to access resources and recreation safely and conveniently.
(See the red highlighted section in the map below).
“This is an exciting and important step in completion of the Loop,” said Scott Johnson, a businessman and leader of WiLCO – the Wilmington Loop Coalition. “A trail connecting East Side residents with the beauty, fun, and practical value of the Brandywine and Christina trails is long overdue, and it is an essential missing link in a trail that will be a game changer for Delaware’s economy and quality of life, and we need to get it done.”
“The immense value of community trails here in Delaware and across the country – from an economic, environmental, and public health standpoint – is clear, and we are delighted to see this funding for the Newport River Trail and thankful to our Congressional delegation, Gov. Carney and County Executive Meyer for their support,” said Mary Roth, executive director of Delaware Greenways. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with state and city leaders to make that critical connection a reality.”
“We often joke about how connected we all are and the limited degrees of separation in our city of 70,000 and state of one million,” said Logan S. Herring, Sr., CEO of the WRK Group. “However, these blurred lines come into focus as it pertains to access and opportunity, and I see these barriers clearly every day working in Riverside and Northeast Wilmington – barriers to jobs, education, and community resources. By connecting the Wilmington Loop through the city, we can help make the promise of true community connectivity a reality.”
“The city is pleased to be part of a wonderful project being led by the Wilmington Loop Coalition,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “This initiative has picked up encouraging momentum, and the city supports the effort to create numerous outdoor recreational opportunities to explore our great city as well as beautiful neighboring environs. Congratulations to all who see the tremendous value in the completion of the Loop.”
An extension of a complete city trail through Alapocas Woods and Rockford Park will make thousands of jobs in the state’s scientific research, health care, and banking sectors just north of the city accessible for Wilmington residents via bike or foot. Also, the Loop will provide a safe, easy way for suburban employees and apartment and neighborhood dwellers to access city jobs and cultural amenities. By combining the city link and this extension, advocates said that less than 6 miles of trail in total is needed to complete the full loop.
Further information is available at www.delawaregreenways.org
