MAPPING OUT HEALTHY LIVING
Schuylkill River Greenways launches new website with interactive trail map
Two weeks into the New Year and some people may be looking for fresh motivation to stick with their fitness resolutions. Only about 8 percent of the people that make New Year goals actually achieve them, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute.
An incentive for healthy living may come in the form of a regional website that provides an interactive way to connect with a local trail and river. The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area recently unveiled its new website with mobile-friendly features such as an online version of the Schuylkill River Trail map.
“January is a time for new beginnings. Schuylkill River Greenways is joining the trend with a fully-revamped website making it easier for people to explore the river, trail and communities within the heritage area,” said Schuylkill River Greenways Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer.
The state and nationally designated heritage area includes the boundaries of Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
The mission of Schuylkill River Greenways is to connect residents, visitors and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail. These two recreational resources are great healthy living tools.
Schuylkill River Greenways encourages stewardship of the river though recreational opportunities such as kayaking and bicycling on the trail that runs alongside the waterway.
The new website now reflects Schuylkill River Greenways’ new name and logo which was revealed to the public last year. The homepage banner features the diamond-shaped green logo representing towns and fields with a blue river running through the center. The branded design represents the river, trail and heritage area and so does the new website.
Schuylkill River Greenways no longer has a separate Schuylkill River Trail website. The renovated “schuylkillriver.org” now encompasses what was once two sites into a single site with bonus features. Anytime there is a “Trail Alert” such as a closed section, the information will appear in a bright red caution strip at the top of every page.
The trail is heavily used by walkers, runners and cyclists. There are currently 75 miles of the trail completed in varying sections of the region. This includes a 26-mile mostly paved section from Philadelphia to Mont Clare and a 19-mile piece from Pottstown to Reading.
One of the most exciting features of the new website is the interactive Schuylkill River Trail Map.
The map can be accessed on the home screen by scrolling down and clicking the button on the Schuylkill River Trail photo or by going to the Schuylkill River Trail top menu and selecting “Interactive Map” from the list. New users of the map will automatically have an informational box pop up. The box contains instructions on how to use the map. There is a map legend to help identify completed trail versus proposed trail sections as well as off-road sections versus on-road pieces.
Clicking the blue directions box on the map will bring you to the “Plan Your Trip” section. This feature can be used on mobile devices and desktop computers. Trail users can select a starting trailhead and destination trailhead to view a detailed set of printable directions for the journey. The directions have
the trip’s total miles and a photo of the map route. The directions also include a list of amenities for each trailhead along the route such as parking availability and restrooms.
There are quick-link icons on the map for trailheads, towns and places to visit. Selecting the icon will bring up a set of dots on the map for the corresponding category. To view a text listing of each category; users simply have to select the drop-down menus on the right-hand side of the page. Clicking on an item in the list will bring up more information.
“The interactive map makes it easier for people to discover the many gems within the heritage area from restaurants to education centers to historical grounds,” Schaefer said.
“Website users have the ability to see a place’s location on the map and its proximity to the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail. The map is an engagement tool and will help connect communities to one of the region’s most vital resources, the Schuylkill River,” she added.
Connecting communities to the river is one of several goals listed in the Schuylkill River Greenways’ 10-year strategic plan entitled “(Re)Turn to the River.” The “Schuylkill River Water Trail” page includes maps of the river from the award winning “A Paddler’s Guide to the Schuylkill River Water Trail.” The website will eventually have an interactive water trail map just as there is an interactive Schuylkill River Trail map.
The strategic plan also calls for finishing the entire trail, which will run a projected 120 miles from Philadelphia to Frackville. Users can discover more about the Schuylkill River Trail by visiting the drop-down list under the “Schuylkill River Trail” menu. The list includes pages about towns along the trail, trails that connect, and sites accessible from the Schuylkill River Trail.
The website has a page with activities to do within the heritage area such as cross-country skiing, walking tours and bicycling. Users that visit the “Things to Do” page can select an activity of choice then see a listing of places to visit for that activity. Each place has a link back to the interactive Schuylkill River Trail map.
The “Programs & Projects” page is the place to visit to learn about the Schuylkill River Greenways’ annual events, many wellness related, such as the Schuylkill River Sojourn, Ride for the River and the many educational opportunities provided for free to those within the heritage area. This section also has a subpage called “Current Trail Projects” which gives details about ongoing works in progress.
The website has useful information for those that have made a commitment to a healthier environment as well as a fit lifestyle. Another Greenways’ strategic goal is to protect and restore the river and engage people in programs that encourage them to value and advocate for the river.
The “Conservation” page on the website informs users of the challenges to river health. It also includes information about the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund which provides grants to improve the quality of water in the watershed.
“The vision of Schuylkill River Greenways is for the five-county heritage area to be a thriving and economically vibrant region and for the people within the region to be stewards of the Schuylkill River watershed passionate about its protection,” Schaefer said.