Fishing along the Delaware River | Photo by Todd Pride, courtesy Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers & Outdoors Partners

The Circuit Trails Community Grant Program supports local nonprofits that bring engaging, community-led programming to trails across the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region. Funded by the William Penn Foundation and managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), the program helps make trails more welcoming, accessible, and fun—especially for historically underserved communities.

Since launching in 2023, the program has invested over $516,000 into trail-based projects like bike lessons, fishing trips, art installations, tree plantings, and more—all designed to connect people with the outdoors in ways that reflect their communities.

Now in its second year, the program is supporting 25 nonprofit organizations in 2025. Thanks to expanded funding, including support from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, many grantees will also offer special birding and fishing programs through 2025.

Meet this year’s grantees and discover how they’re helping more people experience the joy and freedom of the Circuit Trails.

Circuit Trails Coalition Community Grantees

2025 Grantees

Latinas In Motion

Latinas In Motion encourages, inspires and empowers women to get active, fostering a community of women living healthy lifestyles. With support from the Circuit Trails Community Grant Program, Latinas In Motion will host regular walks and an annual 5K run, introducing people to trails throughout North Philly, including the Tacony Creek Trail.

Camden Greenways, Inc. 

Since 1993, Camden Greenways, Inc. (CGI) has been dedicated to realizing the Camden Greenways Plan and stewarding it. Funding will allow CGI to expand its Camden Bikeshare initiative and collaborate with local partners on regular trail walks and family-friendly events on Camden’s trails. 

Outdoor Equity Alliance

The Outdoor Equity Alliance (OEA) will beautify and revitalize trail connections in Trenton, enhancing a bridge that links the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail to Trenton’s urban core. The project will transform the bridge into a more inviting gateway for the community and trail users by removing graffiti, repainting and planting vibrant native flowers along its edges. OEA will also install wayfinding signage to highlight the bridge’s connection to the larger canal path and Circuit Trails network, encouraging more exploration of these valuable outdoor spaces.

Philly Devo

Philly Devo provides cycling development for women, trans and non-binary riders new to the sport, offering inclusive and welcoming road, mountain bike and gravel rides. Funding will support a six-week program where riders meet to ride twice weekly and are coached on bike handling skills, route building and navigation, safe riding practices, build riding endurance and more.

Chester Community Story Trail 

Led by Brittani Hales, an engaged and outgoing Chester resident, the Chester Community Story Trail will create a story walk along the Delaware Riverfront Trail, featuring a collaboratively written and illustrated story that reflects the unique experiences and perspectives of local residents.  

YJR Outdoors

YJR Outdoors will hold youth and adult cycling events to North Philadelphia’s Tacony Creek Park and the Tacony Creek Trail in partnership with Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, a Circuit Trails Coalition member organization. YJR will host a selection of public programming, including Learn to Ride classes for kids and adults, bike skills and safety coaching, pop-up bike parks and bike maintenance clinics.  

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Riverfront North Partnership and JSJ Food Bank

Riverfront North Partnership, a Circuit Trails Coalition member organization, will collaborate with JSJ Food Bank, located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia, to host a photography camp for local students from Frankford High School. The photography camp will introduce teens to the Delaware River Trail and the string of waterfront parks connected by the Circuit Trail.  

Philly S.A.F.E.

Philly S.A.F.E., based in the Mantua neighborhood in Philadelphia, teaches service, agriculture, financial literacy and entrepreneurship (S.A.F.E.) to teen boys in West Philly. Philly S.A.F.E. will bring the program’s young men to Circuit Trails near and far to experience nature, decompress, engage in physical activity and strengthen their bonds in the outdoors.

Let’s Go Outdoors

For more than 12 years, Let’s Go Outdoors (LGO) has connected city communities to outdoor experiences across Philadelphia. Circuit Trails Community Grant Program funding will allow LGO to support other grantee partners with traditional neighborhood-based outreach, ensuring that the right audiences are aware of their programs. LGO will also provide outdoor activities to supplement grantee partners’ activities, making outdoor trail activities regularly available to Philadelphia communities.  

Black Girl Joy Bike Ride

Black Girl Joy Bike Ride is a non-competitive, gentle bike ride for Black Women that centers community, togetherness and joy. Led by Iresha Picot, Circuit Trails funding will allow Iresha to offer monthly bike rides for seven months each year, providing all equipment necessary for participants. 

2024 Grantees

• AIM ACADEMY (Conshocken, PA)
• EAST FALLS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
• GIRLS IN GEAR (PHILADELPHIA,PA | CAMDEN,NJ | TRENTON, NJ)
• NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE WORKS (Philadelphia, PA)
• NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY GARDENS (Camden, NJ)
• SHE IS FOCUSED & FIT (Philadelphia, PA)

2023 Grantees

• 9th Street Youth & Community Center – Environmental Youth Corps Program (Chester, PA)
• Artworks Trenton – Artworks Trail Jam (Trenton, NJ)
• East Trenton Collaborative – East Trenton Tactical Urbanism (Trenton, NJ)
• Exploring Nature with Disability Pride PA (Philadelphia, PA)
• Get Fresh Daily – Get Fresh Families Outside (Southwest Philadelphia, PA)
• Healing Through the Land (Philadelphia, PA)
• Hike+Heal (Philadelphia, PA)
• Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers and Outdoors Partners – Circuit Trails Fishing and Birding Training and Experiences (Various locations in PA and NJ)
• Superior Arts Institute – #AdvocacyThruArt (Camden, NJ)
• Youth Development United – Chester Bike Rodeos (Chester, PA)