Authored By: Circuit Trails Coalition | November 12, 2025

$12.9 million in new William Penn Foundation funding comes as Circuit Trails Coalition tackles its next milestone of 550 miles by 2030, unlocking more opportunities for commuting, connecting, and exploring.

On any given weekend, the Schuylkill River Trail hums with life—runners weaving past families on bikes, friends meeting at the water’s edge, and walkers and riders using the trail to get where they need to go. Across the Delaware River in Camden, walkers and cyclists follow the revitalized waterfront to the Ben Franklin Bridge where an accessible ramp has replaced a steep stair climb to offer a car-free connection between states. And during the week, commuters zip past one another on two wheels or by foot, safely traveling the multitude of trails across the region that make up the Circuit Trails network.

It’s easy to take these scenes—and the opportunities they give the region to connect, commute or recreate—for granted. But a little more than a decade ago, many of these trail connections didn’t exist, nor did the chance to travel without a motor vehicle between towns and across counties, discovering new destinations, attractions, natural areas, and more. Miles of trail that now define how people move through Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey were once imagined lines on a map. Today, they reflect a region transformed by the vision of the Circuit Trails Coalition, and by the continued investment of local, state, and federal partners committed to making trails accessible for all.

This fall, the Circuit Trails network reached a major milestone: 500 miles of trails across the region. That total includes more than 420 miles of completed trails and another 91.4 miles in progress, advancing a shared vision of safe, accessible, and connected spaces for walking, biking, and recreation.

“Across two states and nine counties, public agencies, nonprofit partners, and community advocates have come together to create something that makes everyday life better, whether it’s an easier commute, a safer route to school, or a beautiful place to get outside,” said Patrick Starr, chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition and executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. 

The achievement fulfills an interim goal first set by the Circuit Trails Coalition in 2017 to reach 500 miles by 2025, marking eight years of steady progress driven by collaboration, advocacy, and the combined investment across philanthropic, state and federal sectors. When complete, the network will include more than 850 miles of trails. 

The Ulysses Wiggins Waterfront Promenade in Camden, NJ | Photo by Jack Larson

The milestone is backed by a renewed investment of $12.9 million from the William Penn Foundation over the next three years, following nearly $91 million for Circuit Trails projects recently announced in the New Jersey Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the landmark funding of more than $200 million for Circuit Trails projects in the Pennsylvania TIP announced last year. The continued investment from the William Penn Foundation and support from federal programs will be key to the Coalition continuing its work to build connections between neighborhoods, towns, and cities throughout the nine-county region of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey. 

With 500 miles now complete or in progress, the Circuit Trails Coalition is turning its focus to the next phase—opening the 91 miles already in progress and adding another 50 miles of new trail by 2030. The Coalition is committed to accelerating trail construction and expanding access across the region, connecting rural, suburban, and urban communities.

A Region Transformed, Mile by Mile

Recent trail openings and projects underway are not only creating safer, more direct routes for both recreation and transportation, they’re transforming neighborhoods. 

For commuters like Bill Apostolacus, the Circuit Trails offer a convenient and effective way to get to work. “I’ve been biking to work on the Chester Valley Trail from Exton to Malvern (2010-2015) and from Exton to King of Prussia (2022 to today), when my current employer moved to King of Prussia,” said Apostolacus. “I’ve loved every mile of it, not only from an environmental perspective, but the exercise I get, too.”

Trail segments like the Pennypack Path Connector and the Lawrence Hopewell Trail’s  Maidenhead Meadows boardwalk enable residents to travel between communities without relying on cars. In New Jersey, reimagined spaces like RCA Pier, Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, and Cooper’s Poynt Park have turned a parking lot, landfill, and prison, respectively, into thriving public destinations—proof that trail development isn’t just about recreation, but revitalization.

To celebrate the people and places that brought the Circuit Trails to life, the Coalition has launched 500 Miles, 500 Moments—a storytelling campaign inviting trail users and visitors to share how trails have shaped their lives. The stories of discovering hidden cafés, quiet riverside paths, a favorite fishing hole and bird watching spot weave together to exemplify how people move and live on the trails. 

“Together, these miles and moments tell a story of transformation,” said Starr. “What began as a vision to connect the region through trails has become a defining part of our community — creating new ways for people to enjoy, explore, and recreate safely and sustainably through the places they love.”