Takin' the Trail to Town

Takin' the Trail to Town

With the sun shining after what seemed like an eternity of rain and unseasonably cold temperatures, it was time to get out of the house. Today's destination was the Schuylkill River Park, an extension of the trail on Kelly Drive (see my entry from 7/21), which runs along the Schuylkill River, starting at the Fairmount Waterworks and ending up alongside the western edge of Center City. Accompanied by my friend, Lauren (pictured to my right) and my nurse, Frank (he's quite a photographer), I took the trail into the city, ending up in Rittenhouse Square.

It's the pefect combination of nature and urban life. As I learned when I was a graduate student in urban studies a few years, parks like this have become increasingly popular in cities across the country, especially among young professionals.

While I miss my urban studies days, it is great to actually live what I learned. Of course, I'm not exactly a "young" professional anymore, but don't tell anyone!

What makes the trail so great is its easy access to Center City via the ramp that connects with both the Market and Chestnut Street bridges. (In the above picture, my friend and I are returning to the trail from Chestnut Street) Built in accordance with the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the ramp is long (as you can see in the picture to the right), but therefore not too steep for wheelchair users. Being able to get into town, free of any transportation other than my wheelchair, is extremely liberating and makes the big city feel smaller and more approachable.

Now, if only the prices in the shops and restaurants were more approachable!