Trail draws opposition as feasibility studied

Residents of Laverock and Flourtown again expressed their opposition to the proposed Cresheim Trail at a workshop last week at Springfield High School.

The arguments did not faze Bob Thomas.

As the designer and consultant on a number of controversial trail projects, Thomas has heard just about every possible objection homeowners can have to a trail near their property. As he said after the workshop Sept. 26, however, every project is different, and each presents unique challenges.

For example, Michael Harkins, of the 1700 block of East Willow Grove Avenue, laid out a map of his neighborhood on a cafeteria table and pointed to his property line.

His yard shares a 350-foot border with the PECO right of way, the route of the proposed Cresheim Trail, he said, and at its closest point, the trail would be about 11 feet from the corner of his house.

Thomas discussed the grading of the land with him and discovered that the trails' closest point of approach would lie below a steep drop off, which would keep bikers and runners from peering into Harkins' windows.

Harkins then pointed to a spot of the edge of the map, where, he said, he has a half-acre pond without a slope to block it off from the trail route. He was certain the pond would lure hikers away from the trail onto his land.