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.

PHOTO GALLERY




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.

Ron Frick Trail

 

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.

PHOTO GALLERY

Mocharniuk Meadows trail

 

Queen Anne’s lace?

 

Mocharniuk Meadows waterview

 

Hollenbach soccer field

Near Ron Frick trail

 

Rental ordinance up for vote

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.

Sue
Positively!Pottstown

Cherry Tree Park & Kulp Field: Two distinct rec opportunities in Upper Pottsgrove

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

Kulp parking shared with Hillside Aquatic

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

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

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

PHOTO GALLERY

Cherry Tree Park, interior view
Kulp Field sign, Gilbertsville Rd.
Hoffman Field sign, W. Moyer Rd.
Kulp Field, from pitcher\’s mound

Heather Place Park: Enjoy a family time-out in Upper Pottsgrove

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

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

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

PHOTO GALLERY

Play equipment for 5-12 year olds
Community Day

Sanatoga Park: Long history as recreation hub

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

Facilities: Lake, boat ramp, fishing, amphitheater/bandshell, restrooms, pavilion, basketball hoop, soccer & baseball fields, paved track around baseball field, wooded areas, playground, parking.

Activities + tips:  Keep up with events at Sanatoga Park by checking the Township website.

Hours: Dawn until dusk, extended for community events.

Lower Pottsgrove Township has lots of information and photos on their website, which is http://www.lowerpottsgrove.org. Just click on the Parks & Recreation tabs on the left side of the home page.

Contact:
Lower Pottsgrove Township
2199 Buchert Road
Pottstown, PA 19464
Ph: (610) 323-0436
Fax: (610) 323-3824
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F

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

PHOTO GALLERY

Hoop & parking
Bandshell
Baseball field
Sanatoga Park bleachers

Tot Lot

It’s River Festival Time!

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.

Sprogels Run & Pruss Hill: Two more gems in Lower Pottsgrove

Sprogels Run path

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.

Contact:
Lower Pottsgrove Township
2199 Buchert Road
Pottstown, PA 19464
Ph: (610) 323-0436
Fax: (610) 323-3824
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F

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

PHOTO GALLERY

Doe Run Lane, off Kepler Rd.
Sprogels Run, Fox Hollow Circle entry
Sprogels Run, Timberview Dr. sign
Pruss Hill Rd., near Schaeffer Rd.
Pruss Hill Dam

Parks & Parking: Know before you go.

Pleasantview at 1903 Bleim Road

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 space
But 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. Entrance
The 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.

Lower Pottsgrove Township has lots of information and photos on their website, which is http://www.lowerpottsgrove.org. Just click on the Parks & Recreation tab on the left side of the home page.

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

PHOTO GALLERY

Alfred B. Miles Park

Pleasantview's moss-covered boulders

Snell & Norton Meadow

Sun goes down at Snell & Norton

Snell & Norton open space

Mini-Golf at the Carousel

Dear readers and parks/rec enthusiasts,

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!

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