Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail

The Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail was founded in 2008 by a group of dedicated volunteers committed to supporting the construction of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. Currently, the Friends focus on supporting the volunteer efforts in expansion, maintenance and beautification of the trail park. To learn more about the Friends, please see our Membership brochure.

The Friends have had some issues with the website and are in the process of correcting them. We will also be redesigning the site for a better online experience. Please stay tuned.

Our stewardship group has been very active on the trail and the link below will show all the information, pictures and videos that have been collected. In the future this information will be part of the updated Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail website. Enjoy!
Click Here!

A few ways to Volunteer helping the Cynwyd trail

Community Service

The main mission of the Friends is to help maintain the trail itself. This Fall we will bring back trail cleanup days on every 3rd Saturday of the month in support of local community service efforts. Some educational institutions require service that benefits the community, and some business suggest their employees commit to service, also some residents would like to help protect and clean the local parks and open spaces. If you would like to support the local and regional trail system by committing to volunteering on the trail in a maintenance capacity please contact us at comserv@cynwydtrail.org.

Cynwyd Trail Extensions

The Cynwyd Heritage Trail may seem like a stand alone trail. But you probably noticed the gigantic bridge that connects lower Merion to Manayunk. You’ve probably also see how our trail connects to West Laurel Hill cemetery, Cynwyd Park and Cynwyd Station Park. And it doesn’t end there, as Lower Merion seeks to extend the trail from Cynwyd station to City Ave, City Ave to the Mann music Center; to Westminster Cemetery; and finally through the Connelly connection to the Schuylkill Riverfront. For more information email cynwydheritagetrail@gmail.com or call Bryan at 215-280-7958.

Committee and Board Opportunities

Our little friends group is now at 10 years old, and like a 10 year old we are growing at a ever increasing rate. As we come out of COVID our board is expanding, our committees are taking on more and more projects on and along the trail. We need your help to re-fill positions on our committees. The committees we have are Volunteer, Capital Projects, Communications, Membership & Development, Trail Maintenance and Stewardship. Please contact us at info@cynwydtrail.org or call Bryan at 215-280-7958.

Night Walk on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail

Join photographer George Manos and biologist Karen Snetselaar Friday July 16 for a night walk on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The walk starts at 8 pm at the Barmouth trailhead. We’ll listen for night insects and birds and look out for fireflies and other luminescent creatures. Photographers, be sure you can use a manual shutter setting for long exposures under low light conditions. There are hundreds of different firefly species.
Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
Contact Karen Snetselaar at fochtsteward@gmail.com with any questions.

General Considerations when in West Laurel Hill Cemetery

We are fortunate that the Cynwyd Heritage Trail connects directly to historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery at Barmouth. The cemetery, established in 1869, is 187-acres filled with history and remarkable stone artwork. Did you also know that West Laurel Hill is an accredited arboretum with several Pennsylvania state champion trees?
While visitors are welcomed by the cemetery to enjoy their grounds for walking and biking, it’s important to remember that West Laurel Hill is still an active cemetery and all users must respect those who are grieving. Please avoid biking or walking in the presence of a funeral procession, graveside burial or memorial ceremony. Please also abide by the cemetery’s speed limit of 15 mph at all times.
We are also very fortunate that the cemetery is dog-friendly, but please remember to keep your pet on a leash at all times and to leave no trace.
It is a privilege to have this beautiful resource adjacent to our trail. Please be respectful of those who are mourning and to cemetery staff, who maintain this National Register property day in and day out. We are sure you would expect the same deference to be given to you.