Marple OKs plan for updates to Veterans Memorial Park

MARPLE >> When the master plan for Veterans Memorial Park was approved in 1994 and the park opened three years later on Lawrence Road, it met the needs and wants of the residents. Times have changed. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the final draft of the master plan update, which retains the most popular and appreciated attractions of the 25-acre site while moving and expanding others. The design is the outgrowth of nearly months of review.

“It is the most-used of the township’s 12 parks,” said township Manager Tony Hamaday. “We want to keep up with the current needs of our residents.”

The update is the work of a study committee, composed of commissioners, park and recreation committee members, residents and township engineer Pennoni Associates, which conducted a community survey, site analysis, interviews and public meetings. Funding was provided by a $15,000 state Department of Conservation 18 and Natural Resources grant and $10,000 PECO Green Region grant.

The park, with an entrance graced by the veterans memorial wall flanked by flagpoles, a 1943 recoil cannon and memorial trees, provides active and passive recreational facilities. The open space includes amenities such as a multi-purpose playing field, children’s playground, walking and exercise path, natural paths, bocce courts, horseshoe pit, gazebo, 71-space parking area and comfort station. It is surrounded by approximately 17 acres of undisturbed wooded area.

The plan suggests a number of recommendations for uses and improvements, including increasing parking to accommodate 50 additional spaces, moving and improving the playground, creating a central gathering area, retaining the open green space and field, reconfiguring and lengthening the walking trail, enhancing the veteran’s memorial area and relocating/rededicating memorial trees. Limited lighting would also be added to the parking lot, walking trail and bocce courts and interpretative signing installed to educate visitors about the facilities.

In addition, the natural areas would be preserved, Langford Run stream bank stabilized and walking trails leading to adjacent neighborhoods added in the buffer areas and along the waterway. The last would be in conjunction with Circuit Trails, a connected system of 500 miles of multipurpose trails planned for the nine-county Delaware Valley region in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“The key part is to create ties with the other parks in the township and eventually beyond it,” said Commissioner Rob Fortebuono. “Other townships have already started the trail project and now is the time for us to begin.”

The cost of the entire project, according to Pennoni calculations, is estimated at $3.4 million. The work would be divided into three segments, beginning with moving the playground and installing new equipment. The township has applied for a $540,000, 50/50 state matching grant, said Hamaday.