On July 31, 2021 Independence Youth Cycling’s chapter teams, SoMont and Philly Wiss, participated in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic League’s Teen Trail Corp Day at Cresheim Trail in NW Philadelphia.
23 student athletes, 10 coaches and many parents & siblings participated in the event, which was hosted by the Friends of Cresheim Trail.
The collective group performed a total of 66 hours of volunteer time.
The teams met at the outdoor classroom area on Cresheim Road and formed groups. The groups trimmed/resurfaced the single-track loop toward Germantown Avenue, trimmed the trail out to Allens Lane and cleared the sidewalk along Cresheim Valley Dr/Emlen Street. Previously un-walkable due to overgrowth, the entire sidewalk along Cresheim Valley Drive/Emlen St was made walkable again as a result of the workday.
Teen Trail Corp is a program from the National Interscholastic Cycling League (NICA) and its state chapter the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League (PICL). Teen Trail Corps is a program that provides NICA student-athletes the opportunity to serve and give their time towards bike related advocacy activities. The program is designed to provide exposure and be a gateway for NICA student-athletes into the world of advocacy.
On September 3rd, Friends of Cresheim Trail Executive Director Susan Dannenberg presented the team with a Certificate of Acknowledgement and letter, and thanked team for their very important work in maintaining the trail network.
September 3, 2021
Dear SoMont Youth MTB Team:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Cresheim Trail, I would like to personally thank you for your significant contribution to the August Workday on the Cresheim Trail. We are delighted that your group chose the Cresheim Trail as the beneficiary of your efforts. It is only through the hard work of volunteers like yourselves that we can maintain this special trail.
Please let your parents know that we appreciate their time. Guiding a group this large is not possible without adult participation.
During the workday over thirty SoMont Youth MTB Team members and their parents performed over 66 hours of clean up. Volunteers cleared vines from two segments of the Cresheim Trail and cleared the slate sidewalk on Emlen Street between Cresheim Road and Allens Lane. This was a major undertaking and will benefit all who use the Cresheim Trail or walk along Cresheim Valley Drive to say nothing of the aesthetic improvement! Cresheim Valley Drive is one of the Fairmount Park Drives and serves as a beautiful gateway. Your work on clearing and repairing the historic slate sidewalk makes this parkway truly worthy of the name.
Great work everyone. The Friends of the Cresheim Trail greatly appreciates your dedication to community service!
Sincerely,
Susan Dannenberg, Board Chair
Friends of the Cresheim Trail
