The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
9th annual Trail Challenge to hold kick-off Saturday
Event encourages exploring county trails
>> The 9th Annual Montco Trail Challenge program is open for registration, and kickoff is this Saturday, April 27.
This family-friendly program encourages participants to track their visits to select Montgomery County trails from April 27 to Dec. 2 of this year. Awards can be earned for completing visits to five, 10, or 15 participating trails.
A kickoff event for the 2024 Montco Trail Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at Lorimer Park, 183 Moredon Road, Huntingdon Valley. The public is invited to attend this event to visit with area organizations and to receive a free children’s bike helmet while supplies last. Children must be present to receive a helmet. The event will also feature bike safety resources, healthy snacks, and more. Event flyers are available in English and Spanish.
“We continually work to expand and maintain Montgomery County’s impressive trail network so that residents across the county can enjoy greater access to beautiful, natural spaces and family-friendly activities in their communities,” said Jamila H. Winder, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
“In 2024, we hope to see more community members than ever before on our trails, especially first-timers.”
In 2023, the Montco Trail Challenge drew participants from the surrounding region and saw more than 1,300 participants from a few months old to 87 years old.
“The Montco Trail Challenge is a fun, healthy, and free way for our residents and their families to explore the county’s great open spaces this year,” said Neil Makhija, Montgomery County commissioner. “Whether you are hiking, training, or simply strolling with loved ones, I encourage everyone to traverse as many of our trails as possible this year.”
The 2023 Montco Trail Challenge survey showed that 90% of respondents visited a new park or trail, and 63% learned something new about their community. The Trail Challenge also encouraged participants to get active, with 7% of survey takers saying they walked more, 21% biked more, and 13% ran more. Overall, 65% of survey respondents said they improved their physical health, and 76% improved their mental health.
“We are fortunate to live within the county’s large network of well-kept, scenic trails,” said Thomas DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. “This year’s Trail Challenge allows residents to experience the beauty in their own backyards.”
The Montco Trail Challenge will include the Royersford Riverfront Trail this year. The trail has recently been restored. It is about 1 mile long and connects with the Schuylkill River Trail. Find a full list of trails and a map for the 2024 Montco Trail Challenge here.
To participate, people can register online here. The goal is to visit as many parks and trails as possible within the timeframe and record the trail symbol as “proof” of being there. Once completed, participants can submit their entries online or drop their completed card at the five drop box locations in the county. All entries must be received by December 6, 2024. Participant awards will be mailed in December after the end of the 2024 Trail Challenge.
Participants are encouraged to use social media to post pictures and encourage friends to participate using the hashtag #MontcoTrailChallenge.
The Montco Trail Challenge is a partnership between the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Planning Commission, Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites, and the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. It is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Community Traffic Safety Project (CTSP) Grant.
Montgomery County owns and/or manages more than 6,000 acres of open space, which includes nine parks, five historic sites, and over 65 miles of regional trails.
These areas include over 125 historic and non-historic structures, playgrounds, a fish ladder, a working historic canal lock, a wildlife center, and an archives/artifact collection of over 53,000 pieces.