#trailsweek

[philaparkandrec]

Trails Week Profile: Rob Armstrong and Erin Kindt

Rob Armstrong and Erin Kindt are representatives of the City employees who handle the funding, project management and design aspects of trail development. Rob works for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) as the Preservation and Capital Projects Manager, and Erin works for the Department of Public Property (DPP). Erin, an architect, is DPP’s Design & Construction Project Manager. 

Rob, a member of PPR’s Planning, Preservation & Property Management team, has been working on the trail system for about ten years. His job responsibilities center on capital projects and consist of writing grant applications for funding, managing the design and construction process, and planning new project development. Rob serves as PPR’s liaison to other agencies for trails projects, and, in 2013, he was involved in the formation of The Philadelphia Trail Master Plan. This position is perfect for Rob because he has an interest in biking and spends a lot of time on our trails recreationally.

Erin’s journey is a more recent one--she has only been working on the trail system for about a year. Her main responsibilities include managing design and building processes and making sure that project funds are allocated correctly. 

Both Rob and Erin enjoy their positions very much. Erin particularly likes that she has the opportunity to explore areas of Philadelphia that she might have previously been unfamiliar with, and getting to know these neighborhoods via our trail system. Rob enjoys the entire trail development process, but he especially loves the partnerships that have evolved over the years. “We have an amazing group of dedicated people, from funders to advocates, working on the trails,” he said.

The process can pose difficulties as well. Rob believes that all trail projects are challenging in their own way. However, that is one thing he actually enjoys about the process. Erin is in agreement with Rob. “Trail projects are a challenge to begin with,” she said. “There are a lot of people involved and everyone has different expectations that you need to manage.”

According to Rob and Erin, one thing people may not realize about PPR’s trail system is the sheer size of it, and that there are trails throughout the city, not just in East and West Fairmount Park. This vast network creates a sense of community among trail users--trails connect people from all over Philadelphia.

PPR and DPP work tirelessly together to assure that trail projects get completed successfully. “The amount of cooperation between the government, nonprofits, and funders is really great,” said Rob. “It’s really working well.”

View a list of other PPR trail teammates and partners

[philaparkandrec]

Trails Week Profile: David Kanthor and Jeannette Brugger

David Kanthor and Jeannette Brugger are two representatives of PPR’s many municipal partners on trail projects. As Transportation Planner for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC), David oversees planning for all modes of transportation throughout the city. As Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS), Jeannette makes sure that planned bicycle and pedestrian projects get completed. Both are accredited by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).  

David has officially worked on the trail system for the past year, but he has been unofficially involved for the past five years. He is currently the chair of the Philadelphia Trail Committee, the group that is in charge of trail planning throughout the entire city. David’s job is specifically interesting because people use the trails for both recreation and transportation. This means David must think of innovative methods that satisfy the multifaceted interests of the citizens of Philadelphia. In addition to planning, David has experience in fundraising for trails in Philadelphia. 

Jeannette has been working on trails for over 10 years in both the public and private sector. Altogether, Jeannette has worked on countless trail-related projects, including the Philadelphia segment of the East Coast Greenway and the Center City Greenway Feasibility Study, a feasibility study for a paved multi-purpose trail across the city of Philadelphia to connect the planned and proposed river trail systems along the Schuylkill and the Delaware rivers. Jeanette also worked closely with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to develop The Philadelphia Trail Master Plan, written in 2013. As Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for OTIS, her main responsibilities include maintaining relationships with stakeholders, coordinating funding and funders for trail projects, clarifying project priorities, and strategizing future trail plans to expand the trail network. Previously, she held David’s position at the PCPC.

Both David and Jeannette get a lot of enjoyment from their jobs. Jeannette likes that she gets to bike and walk around Philadelphia’s trails. She also appreciates the fact that her position allows her to help the people of Philadelphia feel safe and have fun on Philadelphia’s trails. David enjoys the satisfaction of investing a modest amount of money into something that produces an even greater result for the citizens of Philadelphia, both in terms healthier lifestyles and economic development. 

Of course, there are also challenges when it comes to David and Jeannette’s roles. Trail development is a lengthy process that includes performing a study and drafting construction drawings before ground can be broken. One must properly engage and convince stakeholders and citizens of the benefits of having a trail in their area. Because this communication aspect can pose a challenge, Jeannette is always pleasantly surprised when a large number of people are engaged and excited about a project. For example, over 100 people showed up for a meeting this past November to discuss matters related to the Fox Chase/Lorimer Trail. 

According to Jeannette, the vast quantity of trails that Philadelphia possesses is very unique. There are over 100 miles of existing trails in Philadelphia, and the same amount is in development. 

Partnerships are incredibly important when it comes to trail development. According to David, the trail system would not be able to grow and exist without collaborations between a number of agencies. “The trail system absolutely relies on inter-agency partnerships, and so City government departments working together on projects definitely strengthens our trail system,” he said.

View a list of other PPR trail teammates and partners