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Contact: Adam Gresek, (610) 716-6190
King of Prussia, PA — This spring, Valley Forge National Historical Park (VFNHP) will be repaving a number of popular roads and parking lots in three phases. Work begins on April 18, 2022.
“While this sort of work causes short-term inconvenience for both visitors and park staff, the end result is smoother, safer roadways for years to come.” says Jennifer McMenamin, Facilities and Maintenance Manager for Valley Forge. “Paving work can only take place in warmer months, and we phased it so that we will affect visitors less.”
When the work is complete, 3 miles of the park’s most popular roads will be smooth, re-lined, and pothole-free. This will increase safety for drivers and pedestrians alike. Newly striped parking lots will increase efficiency and reduce the confusion of park visitors searching for a space.
The work phases are scheduled throughout the spring. Please check the park website for the most current list of closures associated with this project.
Phase One - April 18 to early May
Phase one, beginning on or around April 18 and running through the end of April, will repave the parking lot just east of the Washington Memorial Chapel. Chapel visitors are encouraged to use the chapel’s own parking lots. Park visitors can find parking nearby at the Maurice Stevens lot across Route 23 from the chapel lot, and Varnum’s picnic area further west along Route 23. No roadside or “on the grass” parking is allowed along route 23 or any of the nearby parking lots.
Phase Two - April 25 to mid-May
Phase two will close the entirety of North Outer Line Drive and South Outer Line Drive from the park administrative building to the intersection of South Outer Line Drive and Route 252, starting around April 25 and extending to mid-May. During this time there will be no driving access to popular landmarks such as the Muhlenberg's Brigade huts, the National Memorial Arch, and Wayne’s Woods picnic area. These sites will still be accessible by walking and biking along the Joseph Plum Martin trail (JPM). Traditional pedal bike and e-bike rentals are available within VFNHP through The Encampment Store and E-Bike Valley Forge, respectively. This closure will also severely impact the Encampment Tour route used by guided trolley tours and self-guided driving tours.
Phase Three - Early May to mid-June
Phase three will close portions of the Betzwood recreational and picnic area, including the boat launch, beginning in early May and ending in mid-June. During this time, some or all of the area will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Please check the park website for the most up-to-date schedule of closures in this area. This work will not affect travel on the paved Schuylkill River Trail but will limit or close access to the unpaved River trail in the Betzwood area of the park.
Separate from this project, Aqua PA will be closing Gulph Road in April for utility work. It will remain closed until the fall. This work will not significantly impact visitor access to most park areas.
In addition to smoother roads and parking lots, one benefit of the roadwork is that during the closure, North Outer Line Drive area will be pedestrian access only from the park administration building to the Valley Forge Memorial Arch. This provides a rare opportunity to visitors to walk, bike, or jog the trail from the park’s visitor center to one of its most iconic memorials without the distraction of automobiles.
NPS
Last updated: April 27, 2022