The Del Web “North Penn” development is a private, “gated” community in Hatfield Township with its main entrance on Forty Foot Rd across from the ShopRite grocery store. Homeowners have been moving in for a while, but construction continues around the development, particularly in the east end, at the back of the development.
Unless you have been closely following the zoning approvals for Hatfield Township, you are probalby not aware the development design includes a publicly accessible trail, running from Pennfield Drive to the Ralph’s Corner shopping area at the corner of Welsh Road and Forty Foot Road, emerging in the back corner by Kohls department store.
Map of the North Penn Trail and connections to local streets.
At Pennfield Drive, what once was a dead end, will now turn into Mason Rd at the edge of the development. Rather than accessing the trail from the street, pedestrians and bikers instead need to follow the last bit if sidewalk on Pennfield Dr. There are signs posted here and along the length of the trail, calling it a “walking path” and asking users to “stay on the path,” among other things. I rode it on a bike and none of the residents out walking their dogs or biking on the trail gave me any trouble. The signs do not give the path/trail a name, but since it passes through the North Penn neighborhood, it will be referred to from here forward as the “North Penn Trail” unless someone officially names it otherwise.
Image of North Penn Trail Route
The North Penn Trail probably runs less than a quarter of a mile and has several street crossings inside the development. The south end, connecting to Ralph’s Corner, is not yet complete, but the signs are in place so the general path is rather obvious. Still, it is an active construction site and it is not recommended anyone ride through to the shopping area until the trail is done.
North Penn Trail entrance at Pennfield Road.
This trail is an important connector for both residents of the development and anyone else wanting access Ralph’s Corner by foot or by bike. Because Welsh Road lacks sidewalks coming out of Lansdale/Towamencin and is not very hospitable on a bike, locals will be able to use the North Penn trail as a cut through via quieter secondary streets. This could also be considered a way through to the neighborhood on the south side of Welsh Rd (via the intersection near Aldi), on to Grist Mill Park, on to the bike lanes on Allentown Rd and then to the designated Towamencin bike route on Keeler Rd. getting riders way across Towamencin Township. In the opposite direction, nearby East Vine Street connects over to the Liberty Bell Trail near Cowpath Road.
North Penn Trail headed north.
Imagine living in the development and heading over to the shopping area on foot or by bike, rather than taking your car to reach shops just around the corner? It is fantastic Hatfield Township made this publicly accessble trail a requirement for the development plan. Let’s press and support municipal officials to ensure this same connectivity improvements for other developments in our area!
Uncompleted section of the North Penn Trail connected to Ralph’s Corner shopping area.