Although I’m having loads of fun working on the parks series, I have missed talking about public policy and revitalization issues. Actually, I have REALLY missed it. I should be able to get back into the mix a bit more because Rosemary Keane will be leading the way through the parks for the next couple weeks. Below is a copy of a comment sent a few minutes ago to the Mercury regarding their article on the new rental regulation ordinance coming before Council on Tuesday night. Personally, it’s hard for me to be on the outside of all this. Pottstown has so much potential, and I believe it is on its way to seeing better days, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
Has anyone – other than Council, I presume – seen the new ordinance? Is it on the Borough’s website? Don’t you all have mandated notice provisions that would let people see a proposed ordinance 2-4 weeks before it’s voted on? Even if it’s not required by law, it seems like that would be a good practice to put into effect.
When this issue came up this summer, I advocated looking at the existing rules to see if they could simply be enforced, rather than introducing new regs, since everyone acknowledges that enforcement is at the heart of the problems. Will this new ordinance come with a re-vamped, rapid response enforcement system that is administratively tight?
I have heard buzz about the new ordinance and the landlord threats to sue the Borough en masse. On the flip side, property owners are threatening to sue other property owners. Again, PROCESS MATTERS. Why was there not a public process before getting this to a vote? Where is the leadership to bring people to the table to solve their own mutual problems? Each side knows what the stumbling blocks are on their end. Why can’t they face each other across a table in Borough Hall and come to some mutual solution? Why does it seem that people are afraid to talk to each other or that they are cut out of the problem-solving by their own government?
This is symptomatic of what the ULI report noted as a major hindrance to change – people not working together. There has to be a new way of doing things. Now. Or you will never get over the major hurdles in front of you.
Upper Pottsgrove provides two distinct recreational opportunities in the northern area of the Township.
Cherry Tree Park, street view
Cherry Tree Park is a fairly typical pocket park, which is tucked deep in the Cherry Tree Farms development off Gilbertsville Road. Rest assured, though, that it is public property that is open to anyone. It is unique in that it is 1.4 acres, which is a bit larger than most mini-parks. The play equipment is set back from the road, deep on the lot and screened by some landscaping, so it’s not readily noticeable. At first, it just looks like an empty building lot. But then a paved path and sign become evident and you know you’re at a place where the kids can climb, run around and commune with nature. The wild space in the rear corner of the park and the more-than-usual land around the play equipment make this park feel a little more out-of-the way, even though it’s in the midst of a suburban development.
As you leave Cherry Tree Farms and continue north on Gilbertsville Road, you will see Kulp Field on your left, just before the intersection with Moyer Road. According to the Township website, Kulp Field is home to their Little League and Major League baseball teams. Parking for baseball games is shared with Hillside Aquatic Club.
Because no acreage was given in the Penn State study for Kulp Field, I went looking for the Township’s Open Space Plan to see what that had to say. If you want to see the plan, click on the Upper Pottsgrove Township link on the County’s Municipal Open Space Plans page. On page 30, it says that this area – called Hillside Park in the plan – totals 7.5 acres.
It was very interesting to note that part of this property abuts Sprogels Run, which we had visited in various areas of Lower Pottsgrove. One of the main goals of the Upper Pottsgrove Plan is to create a greenway and trails that would run along Sprogels Run and link to the portions of it that run near Pottsgrove High School, Brookside Golf Club, Alfred B. Miles Park and Schuylkill River Park. Not only do municipalities try to create linkages and greenways within their own borders. With the help of their planners, they also try to create regional greenways and trails that retain the natural connections and terrain that already exist in the landscape so that citizens can more fully experience their impact.
One final note: also in this area of the Township is some privately-owned open space to which visitors are welcomed. Beaufort’s Run was featured in a Positively!Pottstown blog post on July 8, 2010 by Rosemary Keane. I urge you to check that out and plan a trip to this 10-acre property on Detweiler Road. You can also read about the owners’ inspiration and intentions for the site in the Township’s spring 2010 newsletter. It is through the efforts and commitment of owner Barb Shontz, her daughter Sue Shontz Hughes, and local volunteers that this space is also available to those looking to heal and re-connect with nature.
CHERRY TREE PARK Location: ~108 Micklitz Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464, near the intersection with Birdsong Way, in the Cherry Tree Farms development Size: 1.4 acres Facilities: Play equipment, two benches, green space and some wild space in rear corner of park. Suitability: The 5-12 year old set will enjoy the play equipment. Activities and Tips: Parents & children in the development certainly should know all about this large play space! Hours: Dawn until dusk
KULP FIELD & HOFFMAN FIELD Location: Gilbertsville Road & West Moyer Road, Pottstown, PA 19464 Size: ~ 7.5 acres Facilities: Two baseball fields, batting cage, bleachers Activities and Tips: Parking is shared with Hillside Aquatic Club. Use 134 West Moyer Road, Pottstown, PA 19464 on the GPS or mapping program to get directions to the parking lot. Hours: Dawn until dusk
Heather Place Park is one of the first parks I remember visiting when we moved to the area nearly 10 years ago. With a toddler, a new baby and not a friend in Pottstown, I attended a MOMS Club of Pottstown picnic at the park thanks to seeing a flyer at a local grocery store. At that time, the area around Heather Place, State Street and Levengood Road was pretty empty, a far cry from the Upland Square Shopping Center that is now just a stone’s throw from the park. If only that Starbucks had been open when I still had preschoolers, all my dreams of sipping coffee while my kids played on the playground could have come true at Heather Place Park.
With my youngest son in tow, we (re)visited Heather Place Park last weekend, during Upper Pottsgrove’s Community Day celebration to find the park full of activity, people and plenty of activity for my first grader. The playground equipment looks brand new and includes what my son proclaimed to be “the best spinny ride ever.” I spent a good portion of the visit spinning that particular piece of equipment and then watching as my son dropped to the ground still dizzy. The play equipment is labeled for ages 5-12, but there are swings and a row of cars and planes to keep toddlers happy as well.
We also had a chance to check out all the vendors and get a snack to help support Upper Pottsgrove Township Fire Company #1. The fire company was on hand with demonstrations and even let the kids get onto the fire trucks and check them out. Local musician, Michael Kropp kept the kids entertained with songs from his popular Makin’ Music classes.
Michael Kropp, makin’ music
The park is compact, covering only a couple of acres, but there is plenty to do even if you visit on an ordinary day. With a basketball court, a great playground (especially that dizziness-inducing part) and a covered pavilion, the park offers something for every age group. Even though it’s situated right along Route 100, it’s easy to forget that the highway is there because the park feels tucked into the neighborhood. It is easy to get to Heather Place Park-simply head west on State Street from the light at Route 100 and then make a quick right onto Heather Place. The park is just beyond the Upper Pottgrove Police Station.
With shopping and restaurants so close to the park, it would be a great spot to visit after dragging the kids through the grocery store or Target. Even better, get some take-out and enjoy a meal at the pavilion and let the kids run around the playground. The play equipment is situated close to the picnic area so moms and dads of young kids can relax (and maybe eat a meal) while the kids play. The pavilion is also available for individual or group rentals and would be a great place for birthday parties or group gatherings-like that MOMS Club picnic I attended all those years ago.
HEATHER PLACE PARK Location: 1420 Heather Place, Pottstown, PA 19464. adjacent to the Upper Pottsgrove Police Station
Size: 2.5 acres Facilities: Covered picnic pavilion, basketball court, playground Suitability: All ages can enjoy this park Activities and Tips: Get your coffee and your friends and take the kids over to this great playground for a fun morning. Or, pack your lunch or even dinner and enjoy a meal with the family while the weather is still warm. Hours: Dawn until dusk
Contact for rentals: Upper Pottsgrove Township
1409 Farmington Ave.
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-323-8675
Upper Pottsgrove Township has all the information you need about Heather Place and other township parks on their website’s open space and recreation page
Due to its unique natural setting, Sanatoga Park has traditionally been a popular gathering place for recreation and outdoor activities. It’s only appropriate, then, to start off this review by letting readers know about Lower Pottsgrove’s upcoming Fall Festival on Sunday, October 24th. Hayrides, a children’s show, games and a costume contest will take place in the upper level of the park next to the tot lot, starting at 1 p.m.
So, how do you get there? Plug the addresses below into your GPS or mapping program, or simply turn at Cutillo’s Restaurant, or onto S. Park Drive directly across from Sanatoga Corporation Appliance Specialists. You will soon get to the park. If you’ve come in past Cutillo’s, you will first see the lake on your right and then the hill with the bandshell, parking, basketball hoop and pavilion on your left. A driveway leads up the hill to a flat area that includes playing fields and a playground.
The playing fields are pretty impressive. Rodney Hawthorne, Township Manager explained that both have sprinkler systems. Re-design plans are in the works to make the baseball field a suitable venue for larger tournaments in the area. For example, if Ursinus College or Boyertown were having a tournament and needed another field/venue, the Sanatoga Park field would meet regulations and could be an economic development generator for the Township. At this point, though, the $1.5 million needed to do the improvements is not available.
I vaguely recalled that Sanatoga Park was a big draw for outdoor fun a long time ago, so I pulled out one of my history books. In consulting my trusty “A History of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, 1752-1952,” I found this:
“In the late 19th centrury, when transportation was limited and Pottstown was still a relatively small town, two parks were established for what was then a picnic trip ‘to the country.’ The growth of both Sanatoga and Ringing Rocks Parks was stimulated by electric street railways which established special service to both places. Going to either place in the open ‘summer’ cars was quite a frolic…
At Sanatoga the lure was that of a lake for boating, roller coasters, merry-go-roudns, and similar attractions. As noted above, Sanatoga Park also became noted for its automobile race track. In fact, stock car races are the only real attraction there now, for several years ago the amusements were discontinued.”
I imagine that the area now used for athletic events was once the racetrack, and would certainly appreciate any readers chiming in with any further history on that.
Sanatoga Park remains a hub of community activity for events such as the Fall Festival described above, an annual fishing derby in June, and a summer concert series, sponsored by Lower Pottsgrove Township and Exelon. On most Sunday evenings, starting at 6 pm, in late June through August, the sounds of polka, jazz, folk and rock can be enjoyed from the lawn in front of the bandshell. To see the program lineup from this past summer, check out the Township webpage here, where you can also keep an eye out for announcements about future events. And if you or your organization would like to sponsor an event, contact the Township at 610-323-0436.
And that wraps it up for Lower Pottsgrove… Many thanks to Mr. Hawthorne for taking the time to fill me in every time I called. 🙂 On to Upper Pottsgrove tomorrow!
SANATOGA PARK
Location: 223 S. Sanatoga Road or 200 S. Sanatoga Park Drive, Sanatoga, PA 19464. If you’re coming from Pottstown, turn right at Cutillo’s Restaurant.
Size: 54 acres
Suitability: All ages for numerous music, community and athletic events
I’ll be at a wedding in New York later today and wish you all a fun, wonderful, magical Schuylkill River Festival!
I guess some details would help:
Crafts, music, food!
Info & demonstrations about accessing and enjoying the river!
11 am – 4 pm
Down by the river in Pottstown, in the vicinity of College Drive. See info here.
Shuttles will be taking people between the festival and the downtown parking lots.
In this post I’m so excited to introduce readers to what may be a couple of Lower Pottsgrove’s lesser-known open spaces, which are both wonderful in their own ways and easily accessible, just as they are.
Sprogels Run Park is a 22-acre stretch of wilderness that runs between two residential neighborhoods. As I entered the park from Doe Run Lane (off Kepler Road), it reminded me of the wooded area of Sprogels Run near Washington Street and Buchert Road that I enjoyed so much as a kid. Especially after all the rain, there were some shallow pools and babbling water running over rocks.
Otherwise, it is simply a beautiful wooded playground. Although I think it’s perfect just as it is, when the Township puts in the planned nature trails, boardwalk and interpretive signs, it will be even better. They have been awarded two grants totaling $75,000 from OxyChem and the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, sponsor of this blog series, to make these improvements.
Doe Run Lane entry
I found three ways to get into Sprogels Run Park, and the Township has done a great job with clearly visible signs and parking spots on the cul-de-sacs at two of the entry points. The first entry point is a strip of grass between 52-54 Doe Run Lane. The second entry point is at 75 ½ Timberview Drive, although there is a downed tree crossing the path that makes it almost impossible to get by. There are five parking spots at this entry point. The third spot is on Fox Hollow Circle, which also has five parking places.
Fox Hollow Circle sign
Sprogels Run is one of those properties that will be linked to others to form a long trail system throughout this part of the Township. Remember when I said I was disappointed that the trail stopped in Pleasantview Park? Well, it will eventually join up with Sprogels Run, which would make both parcels that much more interesting and valuable for an extended hike. Right now, with the easily accessible parking for Sprogels Run, this property is really perfect for parents to bring their younger children for some fun time in the woods.
I had another welcome surprise when I came upon the Pruss Hill Barn at 2595 Pruss Hill Road. At just 0.8 acres, this scenic idyll, which includes a small lake and dam, would be lovely for setting up a chair and casting a line into the water, as three people were doing when I stopped by.
Pruss Hill fishing
They told me that the barn used to be a bar and restaurant with a dance hall on the second floor. They also said that they had heard from someone whose family had once owned the property that there used to be diving boards and dressing areas on the other side of the lake; they pointed across the dam, where there’s still some concrete. They also said that snapping turtles were caught and used for turtle soup in the restaurant! I love hearing these kinds of stories. They make a place come alive in a way you never would have known about if you didn’t stop and shoot the breeze for a few minutes.
The Township will also use this property as a link to other open spaces and will restore the barn as funds allow. To get to the Pruss Hill Barn and dam, look for the bridge and the curves on Pruss Hill Road near the intersection with Schaeffer Road. There is parking for 4-5 cars.
Tomorrow, we will finish our tour of Lower Pottsgrove with a visit to the community hub at Sanatoga Park and begin our exploration of the parks of Upper Pottsgrove.
SPROGELS RUN PARK Location: Fox Hollow Circle or 75 ½ Timberview Drive or 52-54 Doe Run Lane, Sanatoga, PA 19464, off Kepler Road Size: 22.2 acres Suitability: Adults, teens and pre-teens, younger children with supervision Facilities: Woods, unpaved trail, small waterways (depending on rainfall), some rocks, natural study areas. Activities + tips: Parking and park access available from Doe Run Lane, Timberview Drive and Fox Hollow Circle. Keep an eye on future development with trails, boardwalk & interpretive signs. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
PRUSS HILL BARN AND OPEN SPACE Location: 2595 Pruss Hill Road, Sanatoga, PA 19464, near intersection with Schaeffer Road Size: 0.8 acres Suitability: Adults, teens, younger children with supervision. There is a pond/lake and a dam. Facilities: Barn, open space, pond/lake and dam Activities + tips: Fishing, sitting, watching clouds, contemplating. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
Lower Pottsgrove Township has lots of information and photos on their website. Just click on the Parks & Recreation tabs on the left side of the home page.
I thought I’d group three Lower Pottsgrove parks together because they all have something in common: parking issues. But I’m not complaining! You’ll see what I mean below. It’s just important that potential visitors take the parking situation under advisement before heading out for a hike or gathering with friends.
Keep in mind that open space acquisitions take place within the context of a comprehensive Open Space Plan. When a municipality has the opportunity and funds to purchase a property, they have to jump on it. Oftentimes, though, the funds are for acquisition only, not for improvements such as trails, seating, interpretive markers and parking. The Open Space Plan may also recommend that a town try to link various parks by buying adjacent parcels in future purchases. How to allow cars, bikes and people to safely move in, out, and among all of these properties is taken into consideration when planning a total greenway system, and it can take years to get some open spaces improved according to the vision. Money is the biggest factor.
Alfred B. Miles Park sign
All of this is by way of saying, “Bravo!” to Lower Pottsgrove Township for acquiring its many open spaces. While these spaces are waiting to be improved, citizens can still enjoy these unique properties as long as they proceed with common sense and caution.
Creekside in Alfred B. Miles Park
Fellow blogger Rosemary Keane reports that… Tucked into the curve of Sunnybrook Road, between Kepler Road and Crimson Lane is a little gem of a park, the Alfred B. Miles Park and Recreation Area. This small park with a long name is very picturesque, even on the rainy day that we chose to visit it. With a picnic table nestled under the trees and the creek flowing in the background, it would be a great place to bring a packed lunch and get out of the office for a while. Because the park doesn’t have any parking available except on the shoulder of the road, or up on Crimson Lane, it might make the perfect pit stop the next time you’re out riding your bike along the scenic, winding roads of Lower Pottsgrove.
When I went in search of Pleasantview Park, listed on the Lower Pottsgrove Township website at 1903 Bleim Road, I found parking for only one car, and even that was kind of tight. Although the park’s sign is off the road and into the trees a bit, I had no trouble finding the entrance, which looks like a rustic driveway… with a bright red wire across it. If it’s muddy, you’ll want to have all-wheel drive. There’s no real shoulder on either side of the road in the vicinity of the park, so just proceed with caution.
Pleasantview open spaceBut let’s say you get there… you will be rewarded because this is an absolutely beautiful 17.9 acre property. Surprises like this are what make this blogging gig just the best job in the world. With tall trees towering overhead and the softness of the wet leaves underfoot, I made my way down a wide path. Within a few minutes, I came upon a collection of moss-covered boulders. The path ended just a little beyond that, which was a disappointment. So then I started thinking, “Why would visitors come to this park?”
I thought it would be a great place for a carload of moms to bring a few kids so they could scramble around, play in leaves, build a fort and just investigate nature, while the moms set up a few chairs, pull out their thermoses of coffee and talk or read books. This would also be a nice place for a carload of musicians to set up stools and play some bluegrass or folk tunes on their guitars, mandolins and fiddles. Anyone just looking for some “alone time” would also enjoy Pleasantview Park.
Then I made a call to Township Manager Rodney Hawthorne and learned that, indeed, Pleasantview Park is going through a master plan design process now, and the portion that I saw is just a small piece of a larger puzzle. It is a key to connecting several other open space properties that the Township already owns or expects to own at some point. If the overall plan comes to fruition, it will result in 2.5 miles of trail, more playing fields and a comprehensive, linked greenway system for residents and visitors to enjoy. I opened up Google maps and clicked on “Satellite” view while Mr. Hawthorne described the plans, and then I could really see how it will all come together. Mr. Hawthorne invited interested citizens to contact the Township if they want to learn more. The Montgomery County Open Space Plan page for Lower Pottsgrove says to contact Alyson Elliott, assistant township manager at 610-323-0436 with any questions about Lower Pottsgrove’s Open Space Plan.
Snell Rd. EntranceThe final park that presented a parking challenge was Snell/Norton Park. This undeveloped property is listed in the Penn State study as Norton Park at 14.2 acres, but it is listed on the Township website as Snell Park and Norton Park at 32.1 acres. In between now and when the study was done, the Township acquired the adjacent Snell property. I could not easily access the property from 1302 Snell Road because there was a red wire across the steep driveway that prevented me from parking in the gravel area up above. On the Snell Road side, the property is fairly steep and the only indication that it is preserved property is a sign in the forested area up above, which I did not see the first time I drove right past the property. But thanks to Mr. Hawthorne and Google, I learned that this property can also be accessed from Shire Drive. Just go to the end of Shire, park on the street, and you should see the Township’s open space sign. When there are funds to improve this property, it will include mainly trails, meadows and passive activities, with perhaps 1-2 acres cleared over on the Snell Road side for picnicking.
Keep an eye on the future development of Pleasantview and Snell/Norton. Lower Pottsgrove has a good thing going there!
ALFRED B. MILES PARK AND RECREATION AREA Location: 545 Sunnybrook Road, near Kepler Road, Sanatoga, PA 19464 Size: 8.9 acres Suitability: Everyone would enjoy this cute spot, especially if you want to take a walk along the creek. Facilities: Unpaved trail, multi-purpose open space, picnic table, natural study areas. Activities and tips: Pack a lunch and take some time to enjoy the changing leaves in this small park. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
PLEASANTVIEW PARK Location: 1903 Bleim Road, Sanatoga, PA 19464 Size: 17.9 acres Suitability: Adults and children with supervision. Facilities: Unpaved trail, trails, boulders, natural study areas. Activities and tips: If you want to get away from it all, this is a charming escape. It will eventually be a link in a larger trail system. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
SNELL PARK & NORTON PARK Location: 1302 Snell Road or 2840 Shire Drive, Sanatoga, PA 19464 Size: 32.1 acres Suitability: Adults and children with supervision. Facilities: Undeveloped, open fields, natural study areas. Activities and tips: Use the entrance off Shire Drive. You’re almost guaranteed to catch a glimpse of white-tailed deer in this meadow setting. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
I’d like to draw your attention to a miniature golf course that is planned behind the Carousel building on King Street in Pottstown. I’d heard about the mini-golf in my conversations with Eileen Schlegel, Director of Parks and Recreation. The Carousel building will be the home of the Parks & Rec. Department when completed. Apparently, this was all discussed at the Borough’s Committee-of-the-Whole meeting last night, and that’s why I thought I’d mention it now.
Through an article over at The Pottstown Post, I found this YouTube link, which shows the proposed site and some wonderful renderings. It shows a layout for the mini-golf.
This whole project – right across from Memorial Park – really could do wonders to make the King St. gateway more attractive. I know people have been kind of disappointed so far. The Carousel may not be the be-all and end-all of revitalization, but it doesn’t have to be; it just has to pull its own weight. When it does that, it will be an excellent addition to the recreational opportunities that Pottstown offers, a real draw for visitors and a major visual improvement to that gateway.
The article that I came across is actually about a Carousel ornament that’s now for sale for $20. Check out the video, support the effort and get started on your holiday shopping now!
Carlino & Suzy (courtesy Tri-PAC)It looks like I will not get to see Tri-PAC’s current production – WAIT UNTIL DARK – until next Thursday, but that doesn’t mean you should put it off too! See it this weekend and avoid the last-minute rush. You might even get to talk with the director and cast if you attend the Sunday matinee and stay around afterward for a “talkback.”
I’ve seen the 1967 movie version, starring Audrey Hepburn, a classic. Here’s a very good description of the play from Tri-PAC: A Broadway hit, this masterfully constructed thriller moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward an electrifying, breath-stopping final scene. In the play, a blind woman is terrorized by thugs while they search for a mysterious doll. Through a clever deception, the ex-cons convince the woman that her husband is implicated in a murder and that the doll is the key to his innocence. But the ex-cons are about to meet their match as a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues leading to a heart-stopping finale. Roat, Carlino & Mike (courtesy of Tri-PAC)
Go here and scroll down to the Oct. 5th entry to read blogger Cheryl Thornburg’s review, and then go here to get your tickets. Suspense is brewing at Tri-PAC and you don’t want to miss it!
WAIT UNTIL DARK at the Tri-PAC
Thursdays, Oct 7 & 14 at 7:30 pm
Fridays, Oct 8 & 15 at 8:00 pm
Saturdays, Oct 9 & 16 at 8:00 pm
Sundays, Oct 10 & 17 at 3:00 pm
Special Event: Talkback with Director/Cast: Sunday, 10/10
Note: We’re going to post a few articles each day for the next couple days in order to get through the Lower and Upper Pottsgrove parks by this weekend!
Lower Pottsgrove Township threw Positively!Pottstown a bit of a curve ball. So far, they’ve got the most information about their parks and recreation opportunities on their website. They give the name of the park, acres, location and facilities. The key information there is the location, especially since the Penn State study had found that many people didn’t know about parks right in their own neighborhoods.
The Lower Pottsgrove website also listed more parks and open space sites than the Penn State study, which presented us with a small dilemma. Should we include those additional parks? Because we love this project so much, our reaction? “Let’s do it!”
Here I’d like to bring to your attention three small, quirky pieces of land owned by the Township and available to the public. I don’t know the history of these parcels, but my guess is that they were deeded to the Township during the development of the surrounding land for any number of reasons. They might have been too small to be building lots, had some environmental value, or had some feature that made them un-buildable. Typically, these spaces benefit the neighbors in the vicinity because they get to enjoy a nice view or interact with nature nearby, but without a lot of crowds.
The first of these is called Liberty Hill Open Space on the Township’s website. It’s 0.3 acres at 2525 Allison Drive, off E. High Street, before Cutillo’s Restaurant (if you were coming from Pottstown.) I couldn’t find any of the Township Open Space signs, as I’ve seen at all their other properties. The area is immediately adjacent to a busy street and just looks pretty wild (if I’ve got the right location.)
Crimson Lane open space
The second small open space area is Crimson Lane, at the intersection with Sunnybrook Road. It’s 0.7 acres of grassy space that looks like a great spot for kickball, dodgeball or wiffleball, or just to spread out a blanket, catch some rays, read a book or listen to music.
Crimson Lane & Sunnybrook Rd.Sign next to Keim St. open space
The third unusual space is on Keim Street, near the intersection with Mulberry Street, across from the former St. Pius X lower parking lot. This 0.2 acre triangle has a charming split-rail fence and gazebo, but no seating and no safe place to park. If you’re looking for a place to read a book in the shade or have a small picnic or gathering, this might be the spot for you. Although it is fenced, this space is not suitable for younger, impetuous children due to the proximity to Keim Street and speeding cars.
Keim St. gazebo
Of these three spaces, I think the one with the most potential for the most number of users is Crimson Lane, which is in a quiet residential neighborhood. If you know the history of any of these spaces or if you have used them, feel free to let us know how they worked out for you!
LIBERTY HILL OPEN SPACE Location: 2525 Allison Drive, at intersection with E. High Street, Sanatoga, PA 19464 Size: 0.3 acres Suitability: Hard to say. Facilities: Green space. Activities and tips: You tell us! Hours: Dawn until dusk.
CRIMSON LANE OPEN SPACE Location: 910 Crimson Lane at Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown, PA 19464 Size: 0.7 acres Suitability: All ages, younger children with supervision. There is no fence. Facilities: Grassy, multi-purpose open space with some shade, picnic table, bench Activities and tips: Looks like a good spot for impromptu ball games or Frisbee. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
KEIM STREET OPEN SPACE
Location: Keim Street, near Mulberry Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 (right on border with Pottstown.) Size: 0.2 acres Suitability: Older children & adults. Facilities: Gazebo, multi-purpose open space, split rail fence Activities and tips: Bring your own chair or blanket. Cars whiz by awful close. Awkward parking for one car. Hours: Dawn until dusk.
Lower Pottsgrove Township has lots of information and photos on their website. Just click on the Parks & Recreation tabs on the left side of the home page.
Positively Pottstown blog 