EXTON, PA — The Chester County community gathered on Saturday, April 26, at Exton Park Trailhead along the Chester Valley Trail to celebrate trails and champion accessibility during the annual Celebrate Trails Day. The event, powered by Rails to Trails Conservancy and Chester County Parks and Conservation, emphasized inclusivity and highlighted advancements in adaptive equipment for trail users.
Part of the 415-mile Circuit Trails network spanning Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, the Chester Valley Trail served as the venue for a day dedicated to promoting access for all. Attendees explored booths from organizations such as the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports (PCAS), Friends of Chester County, and Penn Medicine at Home. They also enjoyed refreshments from the Tricycle Café food truck while interacting with local vendors.
Opening remarks were delivered by Miko Quisumbing of the Philly Bike Expo, who underscored the importance of making trails universally accessible. Members of PCAS spoke about their weekly adapted cycling program on the Chester Valley Trail and their plans for a more permanent presence along the route.
“We just found out recently, thanks to Chester County, that we are in the process of developing an agreement where we will have a permanent place to store these bikes here [Chester Valley Trail],” said Loretta Cohen, Chairperson of PCAS. “We’ve been operating out of this 7×14 trailer for 14 years, so it means so much to have a county that is in support of true accessibility.”
County leaders, including Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, joined the celebration, reading the proclamation for Celebrate Trails Day and reaffirming the commitment to adaptive trail initiatives. “The 2025 Celebrate Trails Day is observed in Chester County’s Exton Park and on the County’s Chester Valley Trail with an event that brings together trail users of all abilities and is supported by representatives of Rails to Trails Conservancy, Circuit Trails, and Chester County Parks and Preservation,” said Moskowitz.
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