We have a new organizational identity! We’ve changed our name to Schuylkill River Greenways NHA and we have a brand new logo! But rest assured, our mission is still the same!

Both the new name and the logo, are reflective of our mission to connect people and communities to the river and the river corridor. The new logo’s green and blue graphic represents fields and towns with a river running through the center. It replaces an old logo with an encircled image of sun and water.

We have changed our name and our logo, but we are not changing what we do,” said Schuylkill River Greenways Executive Director Elaine P. Schaefer. “Our new identity better represents the work we do, building and promoting the Schuylkill River Trail, championing the river and revitalizing the communities along it.

The new name and logo was announced on November 15 at our annual Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show reception, which also serves as our membership meeting. Over time, will be updating all of our signage and web presence with our new logo.

The new name, Schuylkill River Greenways NHA, was selected following a series of meetings that sought input from board members, staff and other constituents. It harkens back to the our roots, while incorporating our present identity as a National Heritage Area. Our organization was founded in 1974 as the Schuylkill River Greenway Association. The Schuylkill River Greenway Association changed its name to the Schuylkill River Heritage Area after being designated as a National Heritage Area by Congress in 2000. Prior to that, in 1995, it had been named a Pennsylvania State Heritage Area. However, the non-profit managing entity for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area maintained the name Schuylkill River Greenway Association.
“Having two names became problematic for us,” said Schaefer. “Some people continued to call us the Greenway, while others knew us as the Heritage Area.
The new name, Schuylkill River Greenways NHA maintains the National Heritage Area distinction and embraces the our founding identity. Furthermore, making the word Greenways plural (rather than singular as it had been), speaks to the fact that there are many greenways along the tributaries of the Schuylkill that are important to the river’s health and the region’s economic wellbeing.The rebranding comes on the heels of a new strategic plan that sets a course for the Schuylkill River Greenways for the next decade. That plan, completed earlier this year, calls for finishing the entire Schuylkill River Trail, which will run a projected 130 miles from Philadelphia to Pottsville. It also sets goals for protecting and restoring the river, connecting communities to it, and engaging people in programs that encourage them to value and advocate for the river.