Authored By: Circuit Trails Coalition | November 5, 2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has awarded $3.3 million to support six projects advancing the Circuit Trails, Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey’s growing regional trail network. The grants, awarded through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), will support trail construction, rehabilitation, and planning in Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties.

The funding represents the largest single round of DCNR funding for Circuit Trails projects since 2017, when the network received $3,137,800. The investment is part of the $81 million in grants announced in early October by Gov. Josh Shapiro and DCNR to improve trails, parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities across Pennsylvania.

“We’re grateful to Gov. Shapiro and DCNR for recognizing the value of trails and making this significant investment in their future,” said Justin Dennis, chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition and New Jersey Program Director at Trust for Public Land. “The Circuit Trails are both essential infrastructure and recreational assets. They connect neighborhoods to destinations, bring people together, and provide access to safe, welcoming outdoor spaces. This funding will create more opportunities for people to safely travel throughout our region, transforming how they live, work and get around.” 

The six funded projects are:

• Uwchlan Trail — Newcomen Road to N. Ship Road: $800,000 to Uwchlan Township for construction.
• Chester Valley Trail — Atglen Borough and West Sadsbury Township: $500,000 to Chester County for construction.
• Radnor Trail — Enck Park to I-476: $500,000 to Radnor Township for construction.
• Pennypack Trail — Near Pine Road: $500,000 to the City of Philadelphia for construction.
• Schuylkill River Trail — N. 25th Street to the East Falls Bridge: $500,000 to the City of Philadelphia for rehabilitation design.
• Schuylkill River Trail — Schuylkill Banks: $500,000 to the City of Philadelphia for rehabilitation planning.

Together, the six Circuit Trails projects account for approximately 30% of the $10.7 million in C2P2 funding awarded to 34 trail development projects statewide. The announcement follows the $322 million secured in July for Circuit Trails projects from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission as part of the FFY2027 Pennsylvania Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the largest amount programmed for trail projects in the TIP’s history.

“Securing investments like these takes years of relationship-building, planning, and advocacy,” said Dennis. “The progress we’re seeing across the region reflects the commitment of community members, municipalities, nonprofit partners, county leaders, and the Circuit Trails Coalition to advancing a shared vision for a connected trail network.”

The Circuit Trails Community Grant Program also received $60,000 through C2P2. Launched in late 2022 and managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), the program supports community-based organizations offering culturally relevant outdoor programming for communities along the Circuit Trails.

With support from the William Penn Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the program has invested more than $575,000 in 27 organizations to date. With the addition of the latest DCNR funding, total investment is expected to reach $695,000 by the end of 2027.

The Circuit Trails network currently includes more than 500 miles of complete and in-progress multiuse trails across nine counties in Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. When complete, the network will span more than 860 miles, connecting communities and creating more opportunities for people to reach destinations, access the outdoors, and experience the benefits of a regional trail network.