Credit: Lower Gwynedd Township.
Lower Gwynedd Township is in the process of developing a strategic plan aimed at enhancing pedestrian access throughout the community.
Needing more walkability and safety for pedestrians, the Township's goal is to establish a guiding document that will inform future decisions regarding sidewalks, trails, and other pedestrian amenities in upcoming land development projects.
"The plan was motivated by both calls for more walkable areas in the Township, as well as the need for a more strategic guide to consider requests for waivers from pedestrian access provisions in land development plans," said John L. Farrell, Project Manager & Emergency Management Coordinator for Lower Gwynedd Township.
Township officials will use a June 24 meeting to get feedback from the public and Supervisors. Comments can be submitted via email to contactus@lowergwynedd.org or shared during the public comment portion of the meeting.
"After that, we hope to edit the plan based on feedback, then bring back to the Board later in the summer for approval," Farrell said.
Once finalized, the strategic plan will be integrated into the Township’s standard review process for land development applications. This will ensure that pedestrian access is consistently considered in planning decisions. Additionally, the plan is expected to strengthen the Township’s position when applying for state and federal grants related to pedestrian infrastructure.
A key feature of the draft plan is a detailed map identifying priority routes for new pedestrian accessways, existing mid-block crossings that may need improvements, and potential locations for future crossings.
The map also highlights several “community nodes,” such as schools, parks, and commercial corridors, areas that serve as common destinations for pedestrians and thus are critical to the overall network.
To date, the draft plan has been reviewed and discussed at public meetings hosted by the Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, Environmental Advisory Council, and the Board of Supervisors.
