President's Message

The hiring of Betsy Daley as our full-time Executive Director is an obvious and significant milestone in the evolution of the Schuylkill Canal Association. It is a reflection of how far our organization has come in restoring the canal and its surrounding historic and recreational facilities, and tangible evidence of the Association's commitment to continuing the development of the canal area as a significant community resource.

We have reached this important point only through the dedication of our volunteer members, and the substantial, ongoing support the Association receives from Upper Providence Township, our corporate sponsors, and our grant funders. I believe the people most closely associated with an organization have the most to do with whatever success it achieves, and I want to give special recognition to the effort Betsy and her husband Dan have given over the years to the Schuylkill Canal Association. They and the Association's many other wonderful friends have brought it to where it is today.
Looking ahead, one obvious challenge is to supervise the timely completion, within budget, of our capital projects in the Lock 60/Locktender's House area, and to implement the additional steps we recognize are needed to preserve and strengthen the integrity of the canal itself. But there are other significant issues the Association will face in the weeks and months ahead.

• The Schuylkill River Bike Trial, recently extended from Valley Forge to along the Perkiomen Creek, is expected to reach the Route 29 Bridge by as early as 2004. No decision has been made on how it will connect to this destination, but one of the alternatives under consideration would route the bike path along the unpaved section of the canal's towpath upstream past Port Providence to Mont Clare. While the canal's value as a recreational and historical resource would presumably benefit from the increased visibility such a route would bring, portions of the towpath along this section are narrow and vulnerable to erosion, and the modifications we anticipate are needed to handle the bike traffic would clearly significantly change the current pastoral setting and ecology of this area of the canal. The Association must develop a list of issues to be considered regarding the use of the towpath, and be prepared to serve as an advocate for whatever we determine is in the best interest of the canal and the Port Providence, Mont Clare and Phoenixville communities. Your input is important and is needed.
  
  
• The paved section of the towpath, running from the Route 29 bridge upstream to Lock 60, is difficult to enter from (and return to) Route 29, and the route is narrow and jointly used by hikers, bicycles, motor vehicles, fishermen, etc. Once the Lock 60 reconstruction is complete and the Locktender's House opened as a visitors' center, the increased vehicular traffic will bring with it heightened concerns about congestion and safety. The Association needs to develop and implement a plan for an alternative access to the Lock 60 area.
  
  
• We have a wonderful and productive board of directors, the Association's most significant source of volunteer talent and inspiration. Retirements and relocations have reduced our numbers, however, and there is always great value in fresh perspectives. If you have an expertise or talent that we could use, and are interested in the commitment that comes with board service, please let me know.

Do let me hear from you by phone or mail at the Association, or by e-mail to geyelin@compuserve.com, on these issues, or any others that come to mind. I am excited about where we are today, and look forward to working with Betsy, our directors, members and friends as the Association evolves and grows.