This trail is what you would call a sleeper. It’s so quiet, the only people who may discover it are those who:
- Live nearby
- Research Newark, DE trails
- Stumble onto it
- Find out from someone else like us!
We did a combination of 2 & 3.
There are a few things we like about this trail. First is that unlike the north end of the Pomeroy Trail where there are a couple of places with vehicular traffic, the entire length the James F. Hall Trail is on dedicated paved trails, not in road right-of-ways. Other than road crossings structured for bicycles, there is no competing with traffic, which we at JMO like. Second, it’s a nice extension of the trails from Landenberg, PA down to Newark, DE.
Pomeroy South Trail
Going south from Newark’s Main Street, the Pomeroy Trail weaves its way through the city and University of Delaware campus, passing by a bus station. Note that the pictures were taken from James F. Hall Trail traveling north.
The southern end of the Pomeroy Trail officially terminates at its intersection with the James F. Hall Trail, east of South College Avenue on the north side of the railroad tracks. There’s a small park where you can read about the origins of the railroad or sit and enjoy your day.
James F. Hall Trail
The James F. Trail follows the railroad tracks, starting on the west at the dead end of Bradford Lane in the College Park development and ends on the east near the southeast corner of the intersection of Library Avenue and Wyoming Avenue (see maps above).
The trails are just shy of 5 miles total, and the Jack F. Hall Trail has a lot of shaded areas.
There is plenty of signage along the entire trail. The signs offer history of the railroad, the trail itself, the train station, and other trails. There are also instructions regarding what to do in various locations when the trail is not as wide and approaching intersections with vehicular traffic.
Other Trail Amenities
There a surprising number of parks connected to the trail. Kells Park is located between Kells Ave and Manuel Street and offers some parking. The park has a soccer field, baseball field, and basketball courts. There’s a trail emergency call station located here as well.
Lewis park is directly adjacent to Kells Park and offers tennis and basketball courts, a skateboard park, playground equipment, some walking trails, and benches to sit on.
Phillips Park is mostly nature. It connects into the College Park development and has some trails, along with playground and adult workout equipment and some benches as well.
South of the University of Delaware’s Lab School on Wyoming Avenue, you’ll see a neighborhood garden set up. It’s advertised along the trail for those who may want to participate.
There’s even a museum on the trail, the old train station is now the Newark History Museum.
Future Plans
There are plans for the Pomeroy Trail to go further south, crossing over (under?) the rail lines and is planned to continue all the way to Bear, DE. This section is still in the discussion stage, so it most likely won’t be built until the late 2020’s.
Practical Stuff
During the week there was a fair amount of traffic, so on the weekends, you should expect a lot of foot traffic.
Along the entire trail, there are a number of access points. Access points comprise; streets that dead end at the railroad tracks, cul-de-sac entrances, parks, and sidewalks.
Parking is located almost everywhere along the 5 mile route. As we mentioned in the Newark, DE to Landenberg, PA Bike Trails article, be careful NOT to park in any University of Delaware parking lots. They are really good at monitoring their lots, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.