On a Saturday, April 26, people gathered at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge — not for a protest or parade, but for a leisurely walk and celebration with an important message. It was one of eight events happening on Circuit Trails around the region for Celebrate Trails Day, an annual springtime celebration of America’s trails hosted by Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Against the backdrop of the Philadelphia and Camden skylines and river views, the message was clear: trails are more than paths. They’re possibilities.

In Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, across more than the 415 miles of the Circuit Trails network, people are choosing to walk, bike, run, and roll. Not just for fun, but to get to work, to visit loved ones, exercise, and just relax. These trails are rewriting the rules of transportation in our region, a new blueprint for smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure.

Powered by people and built for everyone, the Circuit Trails network reflects a growing belief that access to safe, car-free transportation and recreation isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

That was the sentiment projected by speakers at the Ben Franklin Bridge Walk event.

Brandi Aulston, founder of Hike+Heal, a Circuit Trails Coalition Community Grantee, spoke about how the region’s trails play a role in her ability to make the outdoors more accessible for women, especially women of color, and create community. Patrick Monahan and John Boyle from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, a member of the Circuit Trails Coalition, discussed more about the connections made by trails like the Ben Franklin Bridge that provide a critical off-road link between states. And the New Jersey Chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition Justin Dennis, from Trust for Public Land, rounded out the remarks.

“It’s important to uplift the value of trails — for people, for places, and for the way they bring us together,” said Dennis. “The more we can show that trails connect all kinds of communities, the better positioned we’ll be to grow the Circuit Trails network and make those connections even stronger.”

But right now, that progress is at a crossroads.

Critical federal grants awarded to support transformative trail projects across our region, as recent as this January, are now at risk. These funds, which were allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), remain in limbo as part of a federal review process. Without movement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, these dollars could disappear, stalling long-planned projects that would improve safety, increase connectivity, and bring vital investment to the region.

Among the projects in jeopardy:

• $13.7 million for Connecting Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River Trail, closing a major gap between Manayunk and Passyunk. One key component — the Wissahickon Gateway — would provide a long-needed safe connection for walkers and bikers through an area currently served by a narrow sidewalk and a high-speed intersection.
• $19 million for the Camden County LINK Trail, which would connect the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge to Cooper River Park. This segment will navigate through the City of Camden and Pennsauken Township, before ultimately connecting the urban core of Camden County to its rural border in Winslow Township.
• $2 million for the Richmond Industrial Trail between American Street and Aramingo Avenue, supporting a vision to turn a freight corridor into a vibrant, community-centered trail.
• $2.5 million for the PA 291 East Coast Greenway (9/11 National Memorial Trail) in Chester, where safety upgrades would reconnect residents to jobs and the waterfront.

The Circuit Trails wouldn’t exist without strong local leadership and federal investment. And while recent years have seen unprecedented momentum, maintaining that momentum means continuing to prioritize this kind of infrastructure at the highest levels.

One walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge — or any of the recent events hosted on Circuit Trails for Celebrate Trails Day — shows what’s possible when communities are given the freedom to move safely and freely. These trails connect people across rivers, neighborhoods, and even state lines. They expand access and open doors.

That’s exactly why conversations about the future development of trails like the improvement of the Delaware River Bridge are crucial right now.

The 1.25-mile span connecting Bucks County to Burlington County is one of the region’s most heavily traveled routes. Aging infrastructure, increasing congestion, and an urgent need for alternatives have sparked plans for a major redesign.

“Multiple options are on the table, from rehabbing the existing bridge to building a second one, but one thing is clear: this is a once-in-a-generation chance to integrate bike and pedestrian infrastructure into a high-traffic, high-impact crossing,” said Dennis. “If done right, it could unlock new ways for people to move between states without a car.”

But without federal dollars, government officials’ support, and community advocacy, those possibilities could stay just that — possibilities.

So, while spring brought people out to the trails to celebrate, the real work is still ahead. You can be a part of making a difference.

Learn more about how you can advocate for the future of trails in the region by visiting Circuit Trails.