A view of the culvert on the east side of Concord Pike. (Courtesy of Wilmington Area Planning Council)
A pathway under Concord Pike for pedestrians and bicyclists is being considered as a way to break through the barrier between people who live on the eastern side of the busy and wide highway and the parks and trails on the west.
The Rocky Run Underpass, if built, would take advantage of an existing culvert, just south of the Widener University Delaware Law School on the east and a line of three hotels on the west.
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The lure of nature on the west is strong. Brandywine Creek State Park has 933 acres of parkland and 14 miles of trails, and the adjacent Brandywine Valley section of First State National Historical Park has 1,300 acres and 23 miles of trails.
Of course, the pathway also would connect nearby residents to retailers, services and other facilities.
The Wilmington Area Planning Council in 2018 began leading the effort on long-range planning for the Concord Pike/U.S. 202 corridor , along with the Delaware Department of Transportation and the New Castle County Department of Land Use.