Help us name Greater Philadelphia's trail network. Submit your best ideas to nameourtrailnetwork@gmail.com for a name that captures the potential of our connected network and the energy of its many users. The winning submission will be announced in early January and the winner will receive a $250 cash prize.

Naming Criteria

The name of the overall network should consider the following criteria:

Reflect the whole region of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, not just the urban core of Philadelphia and Camden.

Respect individual trail identities. While the purpose of the name is to build momentum for a connected trail network, it is still important to maintain the identities of individual trails, such as the Schuylkill River Trail and Cooper River Trail. An ideal name will be complementary to, and used in tandem with, existing trail names.

Promote trail benefits and experiences. With key segments connected, residents can rely on the trail network as an alternative form of transportation to save money, access new recreation opportunities and explore other areas of the region, improving the safety and accessibility of formerly isolated communities and supporting local businesses.

Focus on the future and avoid colonial imagery and historical clichés. While tourist-oriented marketing often plays up the Philadelphia area's historical significance, it tends to be overused, and reflects our past more than our present and future.

The trails that make up this network have been developed and maintained by a variety of partners and jurisdictions across the region. No one "owns the whole network," though many organizations are participating in this contest. Names with strong authenticity and viral potential will help achieve the goal of attracting thousands of daily users.

Greater Philadelphia's developing system of trails has energized communities across the region, with the construction of each new segment connecting more neighborhoods and residents. The trails, including the Schuylkill River Trail, Cooper River Trail and East Coast Greenway, are situated along our major rivers and connect Camden and Philadelphia with the suburban counties of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

As a whole, this network represents a potential world-class amenity, uniquely reaching from the heart of downtown Philly into the surrounding counties and communities. Our trails serve as safe routes for walking, biking, running and skating. They provide scenic routes along the region's rivers and a nonstop bike route between downtown, Fairmount Park and the suburbs. Our region's trails are a great destination themselves - a place to find people from all over the city, such as workers commuting home past others fishing, reading or skateboarding.

However, our system is often thought of as a series of individual trails, rather than an interconnected network that ties our neighborhoods together. The trails lack a strong unifying identity that could bring them the acclaim and support they deserve.

With your help, we can fix this problem. Having a common name for the network, to use alongside the existing individual trail names, will increase the visibility of our region's trails and reinforce the connectivity of our growing network - the ability to access neighborhoods, businesses, jobs and recreation opportunities across the region without relying on a car.

Entry Requirements

Please submit your entry by midnight EST on December 21, 2011 to nameourtrailnetwork@gmail.com.

In your entry, please include:

• Suggested Name for Regional Trail Network:
• A reason for the suggested name (no more than 150 words):
• Your Name:
• Phone Number:
• Email:

Prize

Pride in helping promote our regional trails with a common identity, and $250 cash!

Rules and Additional Information

There is no limit to the number of proposed names each individual may submit. However, each name must be submitted separately.

All submissions must be emailed and include all elements of the entry: the proposed name, an explanation, and the contestant's contact information.

Contest is open to residents of the United States of America. Employees of the William Penn Foundation and organizations represented on the contest jury, and their household family members, will be ineligible for the cash prize and instead have the opportunity to choose a charity to receive the reward in their name. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply and all taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

In the event that any one of the winning names has been submitted by multiple entrants, the judging committee will randomly choose one entrant from among the duplicate entries received and that entrant shall be the winner.

Contest entrants agree that, if their proposed name is selected as the winner, the judging committee may use the entrant's name and likeness for promotional purposes including, but not limited to, official press release announcing the public space's name and contest winner; optional appearance and/or photo opportunity at an event announcing the name; and official announcement on websites.

Submission of an entry constitutes the entrant's consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to the contest sponsors any and all rights, title and interest in and to the proposed name.

By entering, entrants acknowledge compliance with these rules, including all eligibility requirements.

Judging Committee

The judging committee will be facilitated by the William Penn Foundation and include representatives from:

• Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania Environmental Council
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
• Urban Trekkers, Camden
• Cooper's Ferry Partnership
• uGO: A Community Wellness Venture

Trail Network Partners

The William Penn Foundation is organizing the naming contest with the following groups:

• Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
• Cooper's Ferry Partnership
• Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
• Manayunk Development Corporation
• Pennsylvania Environmental Council
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Schuylkill River Development Corporation
• Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor
• Tri-State Transportation Campaign - South Jersey
• uGO: A Community Wellness Venture
• Urban Trekkers/Urban Promise