Philadelphia in the springtime brings bliss in so many ways: outdoor dining, Phillies games, festivals galore and walking/running on the Schuylkill River Trail, a beautiful 23-mile path from Philadelphia to Valley Forge.

According to Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis, “[The department’s] goal is to focus on parks and green space as a long-term investment in Philadelphia’s future. Green 2015 [Mayor Nutter’s bold new environmental plan] charts a course for action that will make our city more equitable, livable, and competitive. We can improve the air we breathe, protect the water we drink, provide children and families with places for recreation, and increase the attractiveness of our neighborhoods — all by taking affordable steps to transform existing land into publicly accessible green space.”

So, knowing how dear the trail is to Philadelphians and visitors alike, The Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) has had a host of important construction projects in the pipeline recently. These include the installation of waterless composting restrooms near Walnut Street in September 2010, enhancements to the Market Street Bridge, and landscaping along the section between Race Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Next up: SRDC plans to build a half-mile boardwalk on Schuylkill Banks from Locust Street to South Street to extend the super popular multi-use trail.

In addition, an ADA Standards for Accessible Design compliant pedestrian and bicycle access ramp will be built at the new South Street Bridge, providing a connection to the boardwalk and improving access with linkages to regional trail systems.

The projects are in the final stages of the design process. Construction is expected to begin this summer and open by 2013.

Yet another exciting piece of sustainable design news we can’t wait to see come to fruition.

Also: Mayor Nutter announced today additional plans to improve the “Fairmount Bikeway,” which links the Schuylkill River Trail between Falls Bridge and Ridge Avenue. The project, which includes a new river retaining wall and wider path, should be completed in June.

Check out some more images of the future boardwalk, below.

Schuylkill Banks Construction Projects [Schuylkill River Development Corporation]