Acknowledgments This study was funded in part by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund. This latter funding comes from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. This study was also made possible with assistance from the following individuals: Berks County Montgomery County Pottstown Borough State Representative Marcy Dave Clifford Tom Carroll Toepel Donna Fabry Justin Keller Bill Bushnell Mike Narcowich Michael Lenhart Ken Pick Erica Weekley Shannon Rossman New Hanover Township Connie Garner Pottstown Metropolitan Chester County Regional Planning Committee Rachael Griffith North Coventry Township Michael Lane Brian Styche Jay Erb Jay Kline Schuylkill River Greenway Colebrookdale Railroad Association Michelle Barrett PA DCNR Bob Folwell Nathaniel Guest Drew Gilchrist Jeff Knowles Upper Pottsgrove Township Douglass Township Commissioner Herb Miller (Berks County) Pottsgrove School District Carol Lewis Toni Hemerka Jeffrey Cardwell Gary DeRenzo West Pottsgrove Township Douglass Township Shelly Feola Commissioner Tom Palladino (Montgomery County) Dr. William Shirk Commissioner Charlie Valentine Pete Hiryak Craig Lloyd Pottstown Area Health and Ed Whetstone East Coventry Township Wellness Foundation Karen Nocella Craig Colistra Dave Kraybill Lower Pottsgrove Township Ashley Pultorak Bill Keohane Tom Troutman Ed Wagner Rich Wood Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Study Goals .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Regional Planning Context ............................................................................................................................... 6 Early Implementation Projects ......................................................................................................................... 9 Further Considerations for Implementation .................................................................................................. 10 Construction Phasing Recommendations .............................................................................................. 10 Partner Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................... 10 Recommendations for Additional Projects ............................................................................................. 11 Overview and Analysis of the Greater Pottstown Trails Network ............................................................... 11 Segment Labeling Explanation ................................................................................................................ 11 Use of Aerials in Trail Maps ...................................................................................................................... 11 Trail Types .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Trail Lengths and Steep Slopes ............................................................................................................... 13 Coventry Trail ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Coventry Trail Overview ........................................................................................................................... 14 Coventry Trail Alternatives ....................................................................................................................... 17 Coventry Trail Segments .......................................................................................................................... 18 Pottsgrove Trail ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Pottsgrove Trail Overview ........................................................................................................................ 24 Pottsgrove Trail Alternatives .................................................................................................................... 27 Pottsgrove Trail Segments ....................................................................................................................... 28 Manatawny Trail ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Manatawny Trail Overview ........................................................................................................................ 38 Manatawny Trail Alternatives ................................................................................................................... 41 Manatawny Trail Segments ...................................................................................................................... 42 Lower West Trail .............................................................................................................................................. 52 Lower West Trail Overview ....................................................................................................................... 52 Lower West Trail Segments ...................................................................................................................... 52 GREATER POTTSTOWN TRAILS FEASIBILITY STUDY i Upper West Trail .............................................................................................................................................. 55 Upper West Trail Overview....................................................................................................................... 55 Upper West Trail Alternatives and Alignments ...................................................................................... 59 Upper West Trail Segments ..................................................................................................................... 62 Opinion of Probable Cost ............................................................................................................................... 74 Funding Sources for Implementation ............................................................................................................ 85 The Study Development Process ................................................................................................................... 87 Precedent Plans and Reports .................................................................................................................. 87 Field Survey Schedule .............................................................................................................................. 87 Project Steering Committee Meetings .................................................................................................... 87 Public Meetings ......................................................................................................................................... 88 Figures • Figure 1: Greater Pottstown Trails Basemap ........................................................................................ 3 • Figure 2: Circuit Trails Network ............................................................................................................. 6 • Figure 3: Primary Trail Network in Montgomery County ....................................................................... 7 • Figure 4: Circuit Trails in Chester County ............................................................................................. 8 • Figure 5: Coventry Trail ....................................................................................................................... 15 • Figure 6: Pottsgrove Trail .................................................................................................................... 25 • Figure 7: Pottsgrove Trail Map Detail: Sprogels Run and PA 663 Crossing ....................................... 35 • Figure 8: Lower West and Manatawny Trails ...................................................................................... 39 • Figure 9: Upper West Trail .................................................................................................................. 57 Tables • Table 1: Coventry Trail Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 17 • Table 2: Coventry Trail Segments ....................................................................................................... 18 • Table 3: Pottsgrove Trail Alternatives .................................................................................................. 27 • Table 4: Pottsgrove Trail Segments..................................................................................................... 28 • Table 5: Manatawny Trail Alternatives ................................................................................................