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A sunny 80 degree fall evening and an array of community partners were the perfect recipe for the DVRPC Public Participation Task Force’s first field trip. In response to requests from task force members to see project outcomes in their communities, DVRPC organized a Bartram’s Garden and Swing Bridge Walking Tour for the October meeting. The event was held in partnership with We Walk PHL and featured speakers Tyler Barile from the City of Philadelphia Department of Streets, Mable Bakali from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and Shawn Megill Legendre from DVRPC.

Led by walk leader Nicole Seahorn Hameen from We Walk PHL and DVRPC Planning Fellow Jen Guo, the evening began with stretching before the stroll down Bartram’s Mile toward the Schuylkill Crossing bridge. The walk gave people across organizations the opportunity to chat with one another and share their excitement about the bridge.

Once the group arrived at the bridge, Barile described the history of the river crossing and the features of the swing bridge, sharing that it was “weeks away” from opening. Legendre outlined how this project will add an additional segment connecting to Greater Philadelphia’s Circuit Trails network and close a critical gap by connecting Southwest Philadelphia to Manayunk and beyond to the north, and Delaware County and the East Coast Greenway to the south.

“This important link in the Circuit Trails network will provide a safe, seamless connection between Southwest Philadelphia and Center City, linking people to jobs, open and green spaces, multiple bus, trolley, and train lines, and the regional trail network,” said Legendre. “We at DVRPC are proud to stand with our local and regional partners to help secure funding and advance planning, design, and construction of projects like this one, which continue to enhance and improve our region’s multi-modal transportation network.”

After viewing the bridge, the tour looped back, stopping at the Bicycle Coalition Bike Hub for a presentation from Swing Bridge Ambassador Mable Bakali. She spoke about the Bicycle Coalition’s programming at the hub, including their summer Free Bike Tune Up, as well as what she’s been doing to engage the Southwest community with the Circuit Trails.

“It was wonderful to see Southwest residents walking and engaging in conversations with the planners and engineers who worked on the project,” said Bakali. “Trails serve diverse communities, so it's important for residents to have a voice in the planning and development process. The Bicycle Coalition is currently conducting community outreach in Southwest Philadelphia, providing opportunities for residents to learn more about the project and share their perspectives."

For more information and updates about the swing bridge, visit the Schuylkill Crossing project website.

Acknowledgements

The Public Participation Task Force would like to thank our speakers and partners for sharing their experience and expertise: Jen Guo, planning fellow, DVRPC; Nicole Seahorn Hameen, We Walk PHL; Sophia Po, Bartram's Garden; Tyler Barile, City of Philadelphia Department of Streets; Mable Bakali, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia; Shawn Megill Legendre, manager of the Regional Trails Program, DVRPC; Lillian Drake, public participation planner, DVRPC; Shoshana Akins, manager of Public Participation Planning, DVRPC; and Odochi Akwani, engagement planning intern, DVRPC.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the PPTF? 

Submit an online application to get your community’s voice heard and participate in the region’s transportation planning. The deadline to apply to the 2027 Task Force is December 20, 2026. 

To learn more about the Public Participation Task Force, contact Lillian Drake, public participation planner, at ldrake@dvrpc.org.