At the Delco Trails Alliance meeting held in late June, Anne Stauffer with Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department and Kelsey Stanton-Murphy with Delaware County Planning Department presented on the recently adopted Delco Woods Master Plan, a long-term vision for creating a green and sustainable public space on the former Don Guanella site in Marple Township.
In 2023, Delaware County Council approved the proposal to create a plan to transform the 213-acre property into the largest public park in the county and its first major park in more than two decades. The Bicycle Coalition and Bike Delaware County urged improvements to the surrounding roadways to ensure all person of all backgrounds and abilities can feel safe and comfortable walking or biking from their nearby homes in Marple Townships, Springfield Township, and Haverford Township. We’re gratified that the project aims to protect the site’s natural components while expanding opportunities for recreation, connections via walking and biking, and community engagement.
In addition to the many bike trails within the park, the Delco Woods Master Plan includes protected bike lanes along Reed Road and a multi-use path along Sproul Road, along with a connection to the Darby Creek Trail and connections to the local neighborhoods. The presentation held last week included an overview of the hiking and biking trails through the woods, ongoing improvements to the area such as native plantings in front of the trailhead, and streambank stabilization by way of anchoring spent trees along streambanks to reduce erosion. An existing, approximately two-acre mountain bike trail would be preserved and continued stewardship would ensure stream quality and continued engagement for trail users. The County has formalized a working relationship with the local mountain biking community who has stewarded the biking trails and shared great appreciation for the efforts led by the volunteers who have maintained the area for decades.
Delaware County Council is seeking $500,000 through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant funding for the loop trail initiative shown in the rendering above. As the County looks ahead, preservation of the undeveloped natural lands (nearly 175 acres) remains the priority, while plans for the community-inspired recreational facilities and features continue to take shape. The estimated development costs for the park are expected somewhere between $40 million to $50 million, which will involve leveraging a blend of public and private funding sources to move the project forward.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia leads the movement to make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region. Join or renew to continue that advocacy and education work throughout the region. More info here.