Trail at Bartram's Mile remains inaccessible past a year due to chemical spill during summer season
A section of Bartram's Mile Trail along the Schuylkill River in Southwest Philadelphia remains closed due to the discovery of cancer-causing hexavalent chromium leaking from a nearby former industrial site. This hazardous substance was identified over a year ago.
The trail, used for fishing, walking, and biking, has been closed as a precautionary measure, with little risk of exposure for most park users according to Pennsylvania health and environment officials. However, the specific agency responsible for granting the approval to reopen the trail remains unclear.
Bartram's Garden, which manages access to the city-owned trail, is awaiting approval from city public health officials to ensure the safety of visitors and staff before reopening. Despite the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection advising people to stay away from the closed area, inspections conducted in May 2025 did not note any recent violations.
The hexavalent chromium is believed to have originated from a nearby former petroleum product terminal site, slated for redevelopment by Alliance 51st Street LLC. The company purchased the site in 2021 and has removed affected soil from the trail.
Bartram's Garden Executive Director Maitreyi Roy expresses concern about potential recurring contamination from groundwater or other sources, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and protection of the trail and nearby park.
City public health officials and the Department of Environmental Protection are likely involved in the decision-making process regarding the trail's reopening. The Department of Environmental Protection did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
[1]: Hexavalent chromium originated from a nearby former petroleum product terminal site and is believed to have contaminated the trail.[2]: Despite advisories for people to avoid the closed trail area, inspections conducted in May 2025 did not note any recent violations.
[1] The trail's closure is due, in part, to medical-conditions concerns arising from the leaking of hexavalent chromium, an environmental-science issue, which originated from a former petroleum product terminal site.
[2] Despite advisories for the public to stay away from the closed area, recent inspections in May did not identify any new environmental violations related to health-and-wellness.
