Delaware County hits the trails and parks as spring arrives

MIDDLETOWN » With some warm weather and the official arrival of spring this past Sunday, the parks and trails in Delco are coming alive.

While there were only a couple of significant snowfalls, winter seemed like a long, cold one. After looking at my heating bill it certainly seemed that way.

On Tuesday at Rose Tree Park the dog walkers gathered to enjoy some space and socialization with neighbors while a few miles away a steady parade of walkers, bikers and joggers made their way along the 2.8mile Chester Creek trail in Aston and Middletown townships.

Spring peepers could be heard in the marshes while the early flowers and flora are returning.

“I love this trail,” said Chuckie Mercadante, who was taking a stroll with Joyce Sitkowski of Garnet Valley. Her only regret,

“I wish it had more parking.” Spots can be at a premium at the lots with 20 spots on Mt. Alverno road and 10 available on Knowlton Road.

Relief for parking is on the way, when the extension to the Wawa train station is complete there will be a 600-spot garage as part of SEPTA’s new Wawa train station.

Just up the road Jerry Hale of Lenni was spending his day painting the antique 1920 International Harvester he planted in his front yard a few years ago.

“I figured it was time to get rid of the patina,” Hale said.

At Ridley Creek State Park other residents were getting a jump on the fishing season.

Mark McAllister of Broomall was one of a number of people fly fishing along the catch and release portion of Ridley Creek.

He showed off a photo of one monster fish he had caught just before a reporter stopped by.

“I’m retired. I started

at 9 but only planned to come out for an hour,” McAllister said just before lunch. “Oh I’m not sure if I’ll get any work done today.”

While the opening day for trout season is Saturday, April 2, the Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place this Saturday allowing youth to fish with their elders ahead of the season according to the

PA fish and boat commission. Licenses are required.

For those who want to give back to the beauty of Delco the 24th annual CRC stream clean-up will

be held this Saturday. Volunteers will be cleaning up at over 30 cleanup sites in the highly populated Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek watersheds.

Back on the Chester Creek Trail Bill Wheaton was getting his daily walk after his shift at Wawa.

“Every day is a good day,” said Wheaton.

PHOTOS BY PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Hugo Jeker of Aston makes his way past the painted dove at Bishop Hollow and Ridley Creek roads. he was on his way for a walk in Ridley Creek State Park.

Mark McAllister and his uncle Wayne McAllister enjoy some fly fishing along Ridley Creek Tuesday morning. Mark said he likes to fish regularly in his retirement.

“Every day is a good day,” said Bill Wheaton of Broomall as he took a walk along the Chester Creek Trail.

Spring is here and this tree in Rose Tree Park is showing some color.

A song bird surveys the scenery along Chester Creek.

A biker passes along the Chester Creek Trail in Middletown Tuesday afternoon. Built on the Civil War-era Chester Creek Branch line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the trail is 2.8 miles long.

Chuckie Mercadante of Middletown and Joyce Sitkowski of Garnet Valley enjoy a walk along the Chester Creek Trail.

The spathe of the Eastern Skunk Cabbage which is one of the early plants to pop up along creeks. The cluster in the center is its flower.

A burst of color can be seen along the Chester Creek Trail in Middletown.

Rose Tree Park is a good place for socializing with the dogs Tuesday morning.

Busy bees at work in a hive just off the Chester Creek Trail.

A buzzard hangs out in a tree above Chester Creek.