Boyertown Community Park has something for everyone

When we visited Boyertown Community Park on a Sunday afternoon, it was buzzing with activity. Boyertown Midget Baseball League’s fall ball teams were making the most of the gorgeous October weather, and the fields and bleachers were full. Beyond the athletic fields we found the playground and a great sized pavilion that would be perfect for parties or organizations to use. (Information on using the pavilion at the park can be obtained from Boyertown Borough Hall.)

The kids could not get to the playground fast enough, and with good reason. The play equipment at the park is unique – not your typical, run-of-the-mill swing set and slides. My son and his friend immediately found every piece of equipment that could spin in any way and got to work on making themselves dizzy. (If you have read my other reviews, you may be noticing a pattern of his by now.)

The coolest thing about the play equipment was that several pieces required deciphering and exploring. The boys gravitated toward one particular piece that looked like a trampoline ring without its center, but it is situated on a slant. They figured out that the entire thing spins (laughter and excitement ensued, of course), and then they started working on ways to use it – one spinning and the other sitting; one spinning and the other lying down on it; the grownups spinning it and both boys sitting til they fell off.

As a parent, that’s what I like to see wherever we take our kids – them engaging with and exploring their surroundings. There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing that spark of curiosity in my kids and watching as they figure something out, even if that something is as simple as lifting their legs off the ground while they spin at high speeds on the playground. The sense of discovery and play abounds at the Boyertown Community Park playground.

It was tough to tear them away from the playground to do more exploring, but the promise of sticks and rocks pretty much did the trick. We followed the winding path past the playground for younger kids (likely the under 5 set) and around past another pavilion to check out the amphitheater. It’s a beautiful wooden structure that looks right at home in the wooded park setting. A quick walk across one of two bridges brings you right over to the seating area for the stage.

The Boyertown Community Park will be the setting for this weekend’s Turning Leaf Fall Festival, which will include performances from local bands and a variety of activities for kids and families. The event will be Saturday, October 16th from 11am to 8pm with a rain date of Sunday. According to the festival’s website, www.turningleaffest.com, the schedule of events is as follows:

Horse and buggy rides (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
Pony rides (12 p.m. – 3 p.m.)
Cow pie bingo(4 p.m.)
Pumpkin Pie eating contest (3 p.m.)
Hayrides (4 p.m – 8 p.m.)

There will also be carnival games, moon bounce, pumpkin painting activities and scarecrow-making all day. Boyertown based gallery and studio, Clayote, will be on hand to do pottery with kids as well as face painting and henna tattoos. If you head out on Saturday, be sure to also check out the alpaca exhibit.

Though it was closed for the season when we visited, the pool at the Boyertown Community Park is a popular destination for residents in the summer and a great way to beat the heat if you don’t belong to a private swim club. Daily and seasonal passes are available for the pool.

BOYERTOWN COMMUNITY PARK

Location: 419 South Madison Street, Boyertown, PA 19512, across from Boyertown Junior High West
Size: 47 acres
Suitability: Boyertown Community Park has something for everyone in the family. From the playground to the natural beauty of its setting, this park is appropriate and accessible to all ages.
Facilities: Pavilions with picnic tables, pool, playgrounds, fields suitable for field hockey, soccer or football, baseball fields, and an amphitheater with lawn seating.
Activities and Tips: Plan to spend a good amount of time at the playground if you have kids. The equipment is new, clean and has plenty to keep them busy.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

Contact:
Borough of Boyertown
100 South Washington Street
Boyertown, PA 19512
Phone: 610-369-3028
Website: www.boyertownborough.org

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

PHOTO GALLERY

Boyertown Community Park Sign

Community Park playground

October 15, 2010

Pottstown 101: Required Reading

I promised to put up links to as many reports & studies as I could find, and here they are. I’m sure other people may have more (or less) required reading in order to get up to speed on Pottstown planning issues. My current list is below.

I made a huge score when I found three studies I knew about, but hadn’t seen before, at the Pottstown Citizens for Responsible Government website – items f, j and k, below. Thank you to PCRG for posting.

WordPress has been acting funny today… The “preview” feature isn’t working now. I hope this post comes out okay…

**Added 09/13/2012**

PottstownHAP_FINAL_July2011 – Borough of Pottstown Heritage Action Plan – 2011

a. Pottstown Economic Development Strategic Plan – 2008
b. ULI report – 2009
c. Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Comprehensive Plan – 2005
d. 422 Corridor Master Plan – 2010 (Pottstown Borough-specific brochure)
e. Washington Street Action Plan – 2010
f. Core District Redevelopment Plan – 2003
g. Land Use (multiple sections to choose from) & Zoning Ordinance
h. Health & Wellness Foundation 2008 Needs Assessment Report – 2009
i. Open Space Plan – 2006 (scroll down to Pottstown link)
j. Western Riverfront District Redevelopment Plan – 2002
k. Reconnections: Reconnecting the People of North Coventry Township & Pottstown Borough with Each Other & Their Schuylkill River Heritage – 2004
l. Fire Services Assessment – 2009

October 14, 2010

“The Park” by Ronald C. Downie

I am so pleased to be able to post this poem submitted by poet Ronald C. Downie, who is also the Chairman of the Pottstown Borough Authority. He sent it in response to a recent article about Sanatoga Park in our Parks & Rec Series. Thank you, Ron!

The Park

Marble sized for giants – whose
Muscles lugged huge stones here ,
Epoch sung through harmonic echoes ,
Waiting with hammer and an ear ?

Glacier droppings thawed to earth
In retreat of Ice Age nights ,
Was Hudson Bay their place of birth
Under Aurora Borealis lights ?

Bare footed , shirtless , agile
Rock climbers scout to find
Cave caverns and weathered fossil
Prints of what beastly kind .

Zig zag stairs to the tower ,
Which commands a southern view ,
Potts’s dream , factory power ,
Blue collar through and through .

They board to ride steel ribbons
Through fields of yellow and green ,
Their voices join track rhythms ,
Up hills , blue skies , at pleasures dream .

Round and round swiftly sweep
Four roller shoes , they in circles flow
To ebony platters etched needle deep
Of organ music for their graceful show .

People recreate at Nature’s door :
Wooded oak hill of ringing rock ,
Pavilion roofed with hardened floor ,
Strengths of family from human stock .

At ” This Wonder Of The World ”
Which Ripley took time to note –
All the Twentieth Century unfurled –
May memories stir by this that I wrote .

( Ringing Rocks Park, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County )

Ronald C. Downie

(I wrote this poem 20 years ago when I wanted to record where we played in the mid-1940′s. The park was closed a decade earlier but this didn’t deter me and my friends from enjoying what was still left even if it was, as the tower stairs, fenced off.)

October 14, 2010

New Hanover: Getting back to nature

On their website New Hanover Township describes itself fittingly as “semi-rural.” With so much residential development in the area over the last 5-10 years it is easy to forget that a huge portion of the township is still undeveloped or farmland. A quick turn off Layfield Road (Route 663 as it changes from N. Charlotte St. once it leaves Pottstown) will remind you of New Hanover’s rural and farming roots. It is here that the three township parks dedicated to natural, open space cover a total of over 50 acres, preserved for public use. They each offer something a little different, but all contribute to both providing people with access to nature and to preserving the quality of life in New Hanover Township.

If you make a right off of 663 onto Little Road (not to be confused with Big Road or route 73) and follow the signs around a few bends, you will find yourself at a little gem of a park known as Pleasant Run Park. The setting is idyllic, with a farm nicely framed between the trees in the distance and a pond that occupies the center of the park. There is a nice, uncovered picnic table and a few benches for just sitting and soaking in the natural scenery. The open area would be a great place to bring the kids and a soccer ball or baseball.

Not too far away, just north of Pleasant Run Park sits another open space park, Deep Creek Park. The township has decided to leave this park in its natural state and only mows it a few times a year. Deep Creek Park would be a great place for an adventurous hiker who likes to really get out and explore nature. There is a picnic table near the entrance so you can grab a bite to eat before or after your walk. The park was recently mowed, so the fall should be a great time to visit.

Situated nearly at the corner of Layfield Road and Swamp Pike is the final open space park in the Township – Layfield Park. After going down a gravel drive, there is room to park at the entrance, which is on Dotterer Road as it comes north from Swamp Pike. Layfield Park has trails lining its 28 acres, so don’t be deterred by the actual trailhead. Look for an opening in the brush, go a few yards up a steep embankment, and when you come down on the other side, the park opens up onto its internal trails.

A trip to New Hanover Township really wouldn’t be complete without a stop at its newest acquisition, Hickory Park. The township bought the property in September of 2009 and has been making improvements ever since, with even more in the works. As the former site of the Hickory Park Campground, this park sits right at the intersection of 663 and 73 as it twists and turns at the Hickory Restaurant. The park boasts several pavilions with electrical hook-up, which can be a great benefit for parties and groups. There is also an entirely new playground to keep the kids busy and entertained. Hickory Park also has a pool with a handicapped accessible wheelchair lift. Seasonal and day passes will be available for the 2011 summer season from the township office.

PLEASANT RUN PARK
Location: 600 Schultz Road, Perkiomenville, PA 18074
Size: 11.5 acres
Suitability: Commune with nature at this simple yet beautiful outdoor space. All ages can enjoy the scenery and open space at Pleasant Run.
Facilities: Picnic table, pond, large open space
Activities and Tips: While Pleasant Run doesn’t have play equipment for the kids, they could enjoy skipping rocks into the pond or exploring the wooded area nearby.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

DEEP CREEK PARK
Location: Deep Creek Rd./Pleasant Run Road, just north of Pleasant Run Park. From the intersection of Route 663 and Deep Creek Road, facing north, turn right onto Deep Creek, then left onto Pleasant Run Road. The park will be on your right, just around the bend.
Size: 12 acres
Suitability: This park is in its natural state and is a great place to hike or just explore.
Facilities: Picnic table near entrance
Activities and Tips: This park is being kept in its natural state, so be ready for adventure when you head for Deep Creek.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

LAYFIELD PARK
Location: Dotterer Road, east of Layfield Road and south of Swamp Pike
Size: 28 acres
Suitability: This natural park has unpaved trails that run over relatively flat ground
Facilities: unpaved trails
Activities and Tips: Another natural park, Layfield Park is a great place to get back to nature, if you bring your hiking boots
Hours: Dawn till dusk

HICKORY PARK
Location: 2140 Big Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525, near the intersection of 663
Size: 21 acres
Suitability: This newly acquired park has enough to keep the whole family busy for hours and makes a great place for parties.
Facilities: Covered pavilions with electricity, playground, swimming pool (in season), basketball court, volleyball court, grills and more
Activities and Tips: This park, acquired by the township in late 2009, has a great array of facilities with more in the works. Visit over the winter and check it out and then come back in the summer when the pool is open. Day and season passes will be available from the township offices.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

Contact:

New Hanover Township
2943 North Charlotte Street
Gilbertsville, PA 19525-9718
Phone: (610) 323-1008
Fax: (610) 323-5173
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm
Website: www.newhanover-pa.org

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

PHOTO GALLERY

October 14, 2010

A Call to Action – No. 2

This has all been shifting and re-shaping in my brain for quite some time. Sorry if it’s like getting hit by a really big wave 🙂

What we know:
– Pottstown has plenty of talented, creative, knowledgeable individuals and groups who are all stakeholders in the town’s revitalized future.
– They need to be working together in a coordinated fashion, doing work that is meaningful.
– There are plenty of laws and regulations, both internally and externally, which determine and affect what can and can’t be done.
– There are public agencies and public and private funding sources that must be aggressively pursued in order to bring the most possible benefits to Pottstown.
– The town must get its fiscal, administrative and enforcement house in order. That is underway; it must continue.
– The town must determine and then assert a positive public vision of itself.
– In order to make a break with the negative perceptions of the past, the town must go above and beyond what is typical when it creatively markets this new vision.

What must be done:

1. Get copies of the following documents, (re-)read them, refer to them often, keep them in front of you. These are the most current documents that guide everything your community is supposed to be doing… until they are superseded by a new study or newly-adopted ordinance or policy. There might be a few more – the District’s facilities assessment, for sure – but these form the foundation.

a. Pottstown Economic Development Strategic Plan – 2008
b. ULI report – 2009
c. Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Comprehensive Plan – 2005
d. 422 Corridor Master Plan – 2010
e. Washington Street Action Plan – 2010
f. Core District Redevelopment Plan – 2003
g. Land Use & Zoning Ordinance
h. Health & Wellness Foundation 2008 Needs Assessment Report – 2009
i. Open Space Plan – 2006
j. Western Riverfront District Redevelopment Plan – 2002
k. Reconnections: Reconnecting the People of North Coventry Township & Pottstown Borough with Each Other & Their Schuylkill River Heritage – 2004
l. Fire Services Assessment – 2009

It would be really helpful to create a kind of “summary library” of what’s in all these studies and documents, so people could have a quick guide to what’s recommended in each of them. I haven’t even seen all of them yet.

2. Engage the community and discover your vision through a series of community workshops. (Off the top of my head; needs refinement.)

a. Get a volunteer facilitator or facilitating team. Decide on the format (structure of visioning sessions, how to put people into teams, how best to convey info & elicit ideas, etc.)
b. Line up dates and large enough venue.
c. Get a summary of relevant information from the above studies & reports out to people well in advance. Set up your own visioning web page on the Borough’s website to put out information.
d. State clear goals, something like:

i. To come up with the top 2-4 essential qualities that define Pottstown (e.g. Pottstown is… the river or steel/manufacturing or pie or small town America);
ii. To choose 1-2 essential qualities that you want to promote;
iii. To come up with and define the top 1-2 economic development implementation strategies that will highlight that essential quality (e.g. We should encourage… arts & restaurants or pharmaceutical manufacturing or Pie City, USA or green manufacturing);
iv. To develop a community mission statement based on that essential quality & those strategies.

e. Get all interested parties – citizens, civic groups, elected & appointed officials, property owners, business owners – in the same large room for 3-4 Saturdays in a row from 8-11 a.m. Always have coffee & food!
f. Stop during the process to overcome obstacles.
g. Decide who is taking notes. Videotape the proceedings & put up on YouTube with link from Borough web page.
h. Have a report of the proceedings written up within two weeks of the final meeting, posted online and available at Borough Hall. Maybe have Council adopt a resolution supporting the document & the strategies.

3. Hold yourselves accountable to the vision. It should not be hard because you will have figured it out yourselves and should believe in it. If there is not enough buy-in, then there was a mis-step earlier in the process or in the community’s commitment to work together, in which case you should not have gone forward. Stop during the process to overcome obstacles!

4. Implement the vision. (More on the nuts-and-bolts of this in future posts.) My first suggestion, though: refer to the Economic Development Strategic Plan; don’t re-invent the wheel.

So, who will do it? And what’s the timing?

The Pottstown Partnership should take the lead on this. For that to happen, the individual member agencies – Borough Council, School District, County Redevelopment Authority, Chamber/PAID – need to finalize their agreements, mission and by-laws and hire someone. It’s been reported that they’re close to that.

On the other hand, maybe this is not how they see their Executive Director or Economic Development Director working. In many other places, an economic development director would be coming into an already functional department. All of this would have been decided, and they would hit the ground running and start implementing incentive programs, targeting funding sources, working with property and business owners, etc.

But that’s not the case here. In fact, because of the complicated and failed history of trying to change Pottstown’s economic future, I would caution against anything other than an initial, all-out engagement of the community. People need to be brought in, in a meaningful way. That’s something I forgot – one of the first steps in the visioning is to list your assets. If I did a chart of the community’s assets, I’ll bet you’d be surprised at how good you look on paper! Remember way back when we talked about the work of the community? I used a basketball analogy to describe everyone moving in a coordinated way, creating space and openings for each other so that everyone participates and looks good. That’s an ideal to continue to strive for. I have also said that I don’t think there’s any “savior” that’s going to perform any miracles. If enough people don’t buy into some economic development czar’s vision, you’re going to be bumping up against the same old limitations.

This visioning process doesn’t have to take more than 2-3 months to reach some consensus and then you’d rally all your resources behind that. There is urgency here, after all.

But what if the Partnership is not ready, or doesn’t come to fruition, for whatever reason? There is actually nothing to stop citizens from organizing and carrying out all of this planning and visioning activity – it’s just that there will be no underlying commitment that the elected officials will adopt it or pay any attention to it or implement any of it. That’s why there’s got to be an officially-sanctioned forum for all this to take place.

Frankly, I have no idea if this is something that the community or the leadership of the community even wants to pursue. Again, my m.o. is to throw out (reasoned) ideas and see what sticks.

I’ll look around and post a few suggestions for books that describe how to do these visioning projects. Of course, anything can be adapted for the needs of a particular community. Oh, yeah… then there’s the money. Usually you pay top dollar for a consultant to come in and run things. My take on that is to get a facilitating team that’s a cross-section of the community – not too large & no one controversial! – who will organize and run the sessions. In fact, there is some other economic development groundwork that you could take on as a community and not pay for. You could even use this “fiscal responsibility” in your future marketing materials. “Doing more with less… and doing it well” – that kind of thing.

Now you see what I mean about this only being the beginning of the real work that desperately needs to be done.

October 13, 2010

A Call to Action – No. 1

This post and the one that will follow today are ostensibly the last in the planning series I started on August 5th. Outside of the blogosphere, though, in real life, these posts are calls to action. Not an end, but a beginning.

Because last night’s Council meeting is in the news and on everyone’s minds, I feel I have to weigh in. I am not going to comment on the particulars of the housing development and the rental ordinance, which are no small matters. Instead, I will point you to a previous blog post about process in the public sphere. Any public body is well-served by doing the bulk of its work in the public eye and with adequate and clear time – in advance – for input from any interested party.

What I would like to do now is highlight what I have heard/read about last night’s meeting that shows positive initiative being taken on several fronts:

– If the process continues as planned, the economic development director position for the Pottstown Partnership could be advertised in November.

– As a result of the First Suburbs initiative Pottstown, Norristown and Coatesville are talking about Section 8 housing issues such as vouchers and inspections with HUD.

– On October 20th, Norristown and Pottstown will have a joint council meeting in Pottstown to discuss joint issues.

– There is a cooperative effort between the School District and the Borough to rehabilitate 22 E. Second Street, now owned by the Borough, with students doing some of the work.

– The motion to authorize the submission of the Pottstown Skyline Lighting Project to the Montco Community Revitalization Board was approved and the project was made the #1 priority as part of the vote.

– There will be a store front decorating contest downtown for Christmas.

– Jason is trying to organize a joint meeting between Council and PDIDA to work with existing downtown business owners.

– Council chose to paint the Mrs. Smith Foil building and pocket an additional $45K for now.

– Motion to approve the submission of an EPA grant for Brownfield cleanup at Bethlehem Steel aka the Pottstown Industrial Complex was approved.

– Construction has begun on the Norfolk Southern bulk transfer station on South Keim St., which should result in an upgrade to the railroad crossing.

DO NOT DISCOUNT ANY ONE OF THESE! Some – like the lighting project – might be “flashier” than others, but they are all signs of positive, forward movement.

I would also like to direct you to an editorial in yesterday’s Mercury: Riverfest shines in town’s trifecta of outstanding events.

DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE CHANGING TIDE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY INITIATED! This editorial apparently did not inspire people to write in to acknowledge the collective success that you, as a community, have already shared. The whole town should take pride in that success… and not forget to thank each other and acknowledge each other’s roles in it.

For the most part, you ARE headed in the right direction. There will always be a decision that anyone from any side of a given issue will consider a setback. No one has to give up on their principles or their freedom of speech, as long as there is a fundamental agreement to come to the next issue in a cooperative spirit of doing what’s best for the town as a whole.

But what is “best for the town as a whole?” That has yet to be decided or even discussed or even scheduled for discussion. This is the heart and soul of community planning, and I’m relieved and psyched to have gotten this far in laying out what I hope has been an understandable framework for how to talk about and plan and envision the future. To be continued…

October 13, 2010

Middle Creek and Optimist Club Fields: Central location for organized sports

Still in New Hanover Township, if you head north on Route 663, in the vicinity of Swamp Pike, you get a pretty good reminder that the area surrounding the borough of Pottstown is still very rural.

Take a left onto Dotterer Road (west) to get to the Middle Creek and Optimist Club Athletic Fields. Just behind the Boyertown Area YMCA building, turn right down the gravel road, and you will first encounter the Middle Creek Athletic Fields. The soccer field there is used by the Boyertown Soccer Club, and the baseball field by Pine Forge’s Athletic Association. These fields are conveniently located and well maintained with ample room for parking and spectators.

Just a bit further down the road and adjacent to the new housing developments, which are also a common sight in this popular township, are the Optimist Club Fields and the recently re-named Anthony “Tony” Gambone Athletic Complex in the Windlestrae development. Big plans are in the works with a fundraising campaign by the Optimist Club Wrestling and Youth Associations to expand offerings at this site.

MIDDLE CREEK ATHLETIC FIELDS
Location: Dotterer Road, just behind the Boyertown YMCA. Use the Y’s address for a GPS or mapping program: 3065 N Charlotte St, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Size: 10 acres
Suitability: Soccer fields and baseball field are open to the public
Facilities: Full size soccer and baseball/softball field
Hours: Dawn till dusk

OPTIMIST CLUB FIELDS
Location: Dotterer Road, just behind the Boyertown YMCA. Use the Y’s address for a GPS or mapping program: 3065 N Charlotte St, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Size: 10 acres
Suitability: All fields are open to the public
Facilities: Full size soccer, football and baseball/softball field, picnic tables and sports seating
Hours: Dawn till dusk

Contact:
New Hanover Township
2943 North Charlotte Street
Gilbertsville, PA 19525-9718
Phone: (610) 323-1008
Fax: (610) 323-5173
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm
Website: http://www.newhanover-pa.org/

OTHER AREA ATHLETIC & WELLNESS ORGANIZATIONS
Boyertown Soccer Club
Optimist Club International
Pine Forge Athletic Association
Boyertown Area YMCA

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

October 13, 2010

New Hanover Community Park: Like an old friend

While Swamp Creek Park was new to me, New Hanover Community Park is like an old friend. The brown park sign at the corner of Kleman Road and North Charlotte Street directs you to New Hanover Community Park, which is nestled into a residential neighborhood in Gilbertsville, New Hanover Township. Make a right onto Gail Drive, follow it to the end and you will find the entrance to this 20-acre property that boasts a paved trail, a playground and more – something for everyone in the family.

When my kids were in preschool, this was the favorite gathering place for lunch and playtime after pick-up for moms and kids alike. With a completely fenced-in playground, it’s a perfect place to let the kids have a little bit of freedom while you hang out with friends and enjoy a packed lunch at the covered pavilion. The proximity of the picnic area to the playground is just right for moms with multiple kids; you can keep the baby in the stroller while the older kids play and run on the playground. I have spent probably more than my share of time at this park with my kids, often staying the whole afternoon until my oldest was due home from elementary school.

Again, in the category of things that make adults feel nauseous, the tire swing is a huge hit with my kids, even as they get older. My normally reluctant 8th grader couldn’t resist the temptation of spinning around at high speeds with her younger siblings, even if the result was a bit of a headache and some residual dizziness.

We walked off the motion sickness by following the ½ mile track that circles the park. The fall colors were beautiful and the gently sloped path was full of people on the Sunday afternoon that we visited. The secluded location of New Hanover Community Park doesn’t mean it’s deserted; in fact, in all the times we’ve been there, I don’t think it’s ever been empty. It fits comfortably into the surrounding neighborhood and adjacent wooded area and really gives the feeling of being immersed in nature – even as your kids can climb dinosaurs, a huge car structure, or maybe take a turn on the swings.

One of the features I had never seen before is the disc golf course that sits just below the walking path of the park. My memories of Frisbee golf from college involve regular Frisbees with trash cans for targets, but the concept has since evolved into a real sport. If you want to try it for yourself, the appropriate discs are available locally at sporting goods stores.

The park also boasts a deck hockey rink that can be fun for more than just hockey players. Bring a scooter or some roller blades and enjoy the smooth surface of the rink (and the enclosed structure will appeal to moms and kids alike).

NEW HANOVER COMMUNITY PARK
Location: 2766 Gail Drive, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Size: 20.4 acres
Suitability: There is something for every age. The playground is suitable for toddlers and up.
Facilities: picnic tables, covered pavilion, playground, hockey rink, ½ mile walking trail, basketball court, baseball field, disc golf course.
Activities and Tips: Pack a lunch and bring the kids to the park for the afternoon.
Hours: Dawn till dusk

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

PHOTO GALLERY

October 13, 2010

Swamp Creek Park, where dreams soar

When Sue first approached me about this parks project, I have to admit I felt a little smug. After all, I have been raising my kids in Pottstown for the last ten years and have seen my fair share of the area’s parks. I really thought I was a bit of an expert on the subject, or at least had something of an advantage when it came to the parks. Many of those in the study have been familiar to me, but this one took me completely by surprise.

My family and I had made a pit stop at the Wawa at the corner of North Charlotte Street and Swamp Pike for supplies (coffee for my husband and me, water bottles for the kids), and I asked a New Hanover Township Police Officer for directions to Swamp Creek Park. I had seen the signs for the park over the years, on my way up and down 663 or Swamp Pike but had never actually been to the park.

The officer said, “Oh, the airplane park, right?” And then nicely gave us quick and easy directions to this unique spot that sits behind the New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Still, I wasn’t quite sure what the officer meant until we got to the park and realized that it has a huge open space, dedicated to model airplane flying-not something you see every day. We parked the car and got out to take a look around. Although Swamp Creek doesn’t have a playground, my kids were enthralled with the whole place. There is something so peaceful about the setting. They especially loved the bank of white birches at one end of the one-mile trail that circles the park. The airfield sits in the center, with its manicured grass and the equipment for flying the planes. I knew that day that I wanted to come back to catch the airplanes in action, so this past Sunday we went back to see what it was all about.

I have to say, we were not disappointed. The model planes are truly amazing and the members of the Swamp Creek Radio Control Modelers were friendly and helpful and more than willing to explain the different aircraft they were using. We were fascinated watching two members with their gliders, deftly flinging them skyward and then using remotes to control their movements. If you want to see the airplanes for yourself, just make plans to visit the park in the morning, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on a day that’s not too windy; you are sure to find at least a few members using the park.

The Swamp Creek Radio Control Modelers meet monthly and fly their planes as often as weather permits. You don’t have to be a member to use the park airfield, but you will have to obtain a permit at the New Hanover Township Building and have a current membership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

After spending some time looking for white birch bark that my kids could take to school for show and tell, we started walking the path around the park. My youngest two took off running and made use of the benches that dot the trail to wait up for the rest of us as we were moving at a more leisurely pace.

The park is also home to two sites being restored by the New Hanover Historical Society– the Swamp Creek Schoolhouse and the Dengler Summer Kitchen.

According to their website: “Built in 1853, the Swamp Creek School on Reifsnyder Road has been carefully restored by society volunteers and today serves as the society’s home and meeting place. Housed there is a collection of township school memorabilia and an extensive school book collection. Additionally, the school serves as a field trip destination for school groups where Nineteenth Century school life can be experienced.”

I’m looking forward to taking my kids back to Swamp Creek Park when the schoolhouse is open so we can fully enjoy the historical aspect of this beautiful park, and walking the trail again and again as the leaves fall this autumn.

SWAMP CREEK PARK (New Hanover Twp., Montgomery County)
Location: 3179 Reifsnyder Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Size: 27 acres
Suitability: This beautiful park is great for all ages. The level walking/jogging path appeals to all ages and abilities.
Facilities:Picnic pavilion, paved trail, model airfield, historical features, exercise equipment
Activities and Tips: Weekend mornings are a great time to catch the model airplanes in action-as long as it’s not too windy. Drop by the park on a Sunday afternoon to get a glimpse of New Hanover’s past in its historical schoolhouse. Get your exercise by walking or running the one-mile path around this beautiful park.
Hours: Dawn to Dusk. Schoolhouse open Sundays, March through November from 2-4pm

Contact:
New Hanover Township
2943 North Charlotte Street
Gilbertsville, PA 19525-9718
Phone: (610) 323-1008
Fax: (610) 323-5173
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm
Website: www.newhanover-pa.org

New Hanover Township Historical Society
c/o New Hanover Township Building
2943 North Charlotte Street
Gilbertsville, PA 19525
610-323-1008
Website: www.newhanoverhistorical.org
Meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Swamp Creek Schoolhouse at 7pm for a program, followed by a business meeting. New members and visitors are welcome.

Swamp Creek R/C Modelers
www.scrcm.com
Meets every third Sunday at Swamp Creek Park, April through September, at 12:30

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

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October 12, 2010

Mocharniuk Meadows & Hollenbach Park: Paths just waiting to be discovered

On a gorgeous autumn day, when the rain had finally stopped falling, I pulled into the small parking area at Mocharniuk Meadows on Hanover Street, anxious to spend some quiet time outdoors. This Upper Pottsgrove park is a real treasure. In general, it’s an elongated loop that has you heading downhill from the parking area. As you make your way around, you’ll get your heart rate up on the way back to your car; do a few laps and you’ll have gotten in a respectable workout. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for wildflowers. I caught sight of a few and promised myself to come back in the spring.

One of the neat things about Mocharniuk Meadows is that there are a couple places to veer off the loop. Being naturally curious, of course I had to investigate. When I was about three-quarters of the way around the meadow, I took a path to the left and approached a cute footbridge that said, “Welcome to Hollenbach Park.” I crossed over and came upon a plateau of soccer fields with a backdrop of houses peeking up from down below.

Welcome to Hollenbach Park (Eagle Scout project by Nick Faulkner)

As I said, I was in the mood for walking, so I headed up the incline to get a photo of the Hollenbach Park sign. Please note that Upper Pottsgrove’s park signage is tops. There’s no way you’re going to miss their major parks!

Then, as I made my way through the parking area, curiosity struck again, and I wondered what was in the wooded area off to my right. Lo and behold, I came upon a trailhead and a sign for the Ron Frick Nature Trail (designed & constructed by Cory Lang & Friends). While the property essentially backs onto the housing development, it seems someone has used part of this area for dumping. (Maybe a clean-up project for some Scouts?)

Otherwise, this was another one of those discoveries that made me feel like a kid again. This trail winds down and through some woods and then slopes back up, giving a couple different options for turning right and heading back toward the parking lot.

It’s not going to satisfy someone looking for a long hike, but it would be perfect for young children – especially if they’re bored with their older sibling’s soccer match. It also quenched my craving for a decent walk since I’d covered a reasonable amount of ground by combining it with Mocharniuk Meadows and the stretch across Hollenbach field (before the clouds began threatening again.)

On my way back across the footbridge, I noticed that the sign on that side says, “Welcome to Mocharniuk Meadows.” Very cute! (I later found out that Nick Faulkner built this bridge for his Eagle Scout project just this past summer – nice job, Nick!)

Welcome to Mocharniuk Meadows (Eagle Scout project by Nick Faulkner)

I put a call into the Township to ask about the debris in that one section of the woods and just remembered that it’s Columbus Day. I’ll get back to you on that and revise this post accordingly.* This wraps it up for the parks of Upper Pottsgrove, and now it’s time to turn the blog over to Rosemary Keane, who will be reporting on Boyertown, Douglass, New Hanover and Amity in the weeks to come. In the meantime, I hope you have the chance to get outside!

* Oct. 12, 2010. I just spoke to Linda at the Township. The trail was put in a few years ago by Cory Lang as part of his Eagle Scout project. The Township will be looking into the situation and getting the area cleaned up.

MOCHARNIUK MEADOWS
Location: Use 1428 N. Hanover Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 to find it with a GPS or mapping program.
Size: 6.0 acres
Facilities: Meadow, walking trails, creek, footbridge to adjacent Hollenbach Park
Suitability: All ages of humans and dogs (on a leash.) They’ve got doggie bags at the entrance, in case you forget yours.
Activities and Tips: Check out wildflowers in spring and fall.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

HOLLENBACH PARK
Location: Use 1370 N. Hanover Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 to find it with a GPS or mapping program.
Size: 25.2 acres
Facilities: Soccer fields, parking, port-o-potty, trail
Suitability: Soccer players/teams, walkers & hikers, very young children with supervision
Activities and Tips: Hollenbach is not just for soccer. Explore the Ron Frick Nature Trail to the right of the parking lot, as you are facing the fields.
Hours: Dawn until dusk

Upper Pottsgrove Township
1409 Farmington Ave.
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-323-8675

See the Upper Pottsgrove Township open space and recreation page to learn about their programs and facilities.

Follow the parks series at Mission: Healthy Living, Positively!Pottstown, Twitter (PositivelyPtown), Facebook, and The Mercury.

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