Updated Oct 5, 2021 - News

Manayunk Canal Towpath to reopen by mid-October

Mike D'Onofrio

Two dogs run off-leash along the Manayunk Canal Towpath. — Photo courtesy of Alexa Nahas/Manayunk Development Corporation

The storm-damaged Manayunk Canal Towpath will reopen in the coming weeks.

Driving the news: Mayor Jim Kenney's administration is finishing up $300,000-$350,000 in repairs to the 2-mile stretch of the Schuylkill River Trail, Maita Soukup, a spokesperson for the city's Parks & Recreation Department, tells Axios.

Why it matters: The towpath's closure following Hurricane Ida last month has hurt Manayunk businesses that rely on its daily foot traffic, Gwen McCauley, executive director of the Manayunk Development Corporation, said.

"It's essential. It is not an amenity," she said.

State of play: The towpath, which runs along the Manayunk Canal behind Main Street, remains dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists, Soukup said.

But crews are removing fallen trees and mud — which accumulated more than 1 foot deep in some parts — from the trail. The towpath's surface is also being restored, and barrier fences are being replaced.
For now, an on-street detour is available from Main Street in Manayunk, connecting to Shawmont Avenue.

What they're saying: The remnants of Ida caused at least $23 million in damages to Manayunk businesses and depressed foot traffic, McCauley said.

Several businesses on Main Street are temporarily closed, including Philadelphia Runner and Manayunk Brewing Company. But it's too early to know how many will shutter for good.
The return of the towpath "will be a huge step in getting us back to where we were," but it "won't get us back to normal," McCauley said.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the trail repairs amount to $300,000-$350,000.

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Manayunk Canal Towpath to reopen by mid-October

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