Don’t miss our lively fall festival October 17 in Haverford’s picturesque Sharpe Park (a bird sanctuary) across from the historic Merion Cricket Club. Stroll the leafy woodland and admire its colorful fall foliage. Munch on the free food, groove to the classic and alt rock sounds of Lincoln Drive and take a chance on a raffle ticket. Bring the kids, paint a pumpkin, check out an ambulance and fire truck and get acquainted with your neighborhood first responders. Sponsored by Haverford Civic Association and the local business community.
Each autumn, Lower Merion Township plants free shade trees, also know as street trees, at no cost to the homeowner. Maintenance, such as pruning, is also free.
Trees have environmental, social, health and economic benefits. Trees:
Add beauty.
Supply food, shelter and breeding sites for wildlife.
Improve air, water and soil quality.
Cool the streets.
Lower energy bills.
Enhance property valaues.
Reduce storm water runoff.
Combat climate change.
Improve mental and physical health.
Promote community connection.
Encourage outdoor activity.
Shade trees are those that line the streets in the public right-of-way, typically the strip of land between curb and sidewalk, but possibly extending to a portion of ground between sidewalk and home. Right-of-way width varies street to street.
Shade trees have distinct value. For example, they naturally slow traffic, provide shade and cooling for the pedestrian and have the greatest effect on enhancing property values.
Because of their prominence, shade trees are arguably the most aesthetically pleasing. Located near the curb, shade trees effectively block stormwater runoff into the roadway. Perhaps most importantly, pleasant tree-lined streets encourage people to walk, play and socialize, all of which improve emotional and physical health and increase neighborhood safety through “eyes on the street.”
Applying for a Lower Merion Township planted free shade tree is quick and easy! The “Request-a-Shade-Tree” online application can be accessed by clicking https://www.lowermerion.org/requestatree.
Once you apply, Township Arborist Joe Marco will visit your property, confirm that there is a suitable planting site and provide a selection of tree options that range from tall, majestic sycamores and oaks to small, lovely dogwoods and redbuds.
Eagle Scout Jayden Thomas has been busy this summer. A Haverford School senior and member of Troop 176 in Narberth, he led an impressive effort to enhance and restore the local bird sanctuary. The work, his Eagle Scout Service Project, focused on improving habitat for local bird populations and creating opportunities for visitors to learn about and enjoy the park’s natural environment.
Throughout the project, he worked closely with and was mentored by Cathy Bell, a member of The Garden Workers, a local affiliate of the Garden Club of America. He’s pictured above with Garden Workers Cathy Bell (left) and Brooke McInnes.
Jayden’s inspiration for the project came from discovering a geocache during a school community service day in Sharpe Park. (Geocaches are sought in a kind of outdoor scavenger hunt using GPS coordinates to locate hidden caches.) After finding one in Sharpe Park while doing cleanup work there, he grew passionate about strengthening the park’s ecosystem and enhancing it as a welcoming destination for both wildlife and local residents.
The project included removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native plants in a garden bed under the Sharpe Park sign, as well as constructing birdhouses and locating them throughout the park. In addition, educational QR-code markers were installed to provide information about local birds and plants.
As project leader, Jayden was responsible for researching birdhouse designs, creating technical CAD drawings, coordinating the preparation of materials with a woodworking shop and conducting site assessments to determine optimal planting locations and birdhouse placement. After more than 15 hours of planning and coordination with The Garden Workers, Jayden organized three volunteer workdays in August, bringing together 21 volunteers who contributed a total of 87 service hours toward the habitat restoration project.
Clockwise from top: The newly opened Ardmore Train Station, seen from Station Road; outbound platform on the Suburban Square side; elevators from inbound and outbound platforms open onto well-lit tunnel underneath the tracks, seen from the south side; the outside waiting area on the inbound platform with skylight and wood planking; interior waiting room with south-facing windows, bathrooms, water fountain and electronic arrivals board.
Six Years in the Making
It took six years and 59 million dollars, but the renovated Ardmore Train Station reopened on Monday, March 23, to the great relief of commuters and nearby businesses. The station and an adjacent 90-bay parking lot that has also reopened serve both SEPTA and AMTRAK riders.
Local businesses are hoping the reopening will take some pressure off their bottom line. The closure impacted foot traffic in the area and cost many of them a significant chunk of their customer base.
The new station lays on a slew of improvements including better lighting; train-level platforms for easier and faster boarding; elevators, ramps and other ADA-compliant features; a temperature-controlled indoor waiting room with south-facing windows, two bathrooms and a water fountain; and an outdoor covered platform with skylights and exposed wooden planking.
Throughout construction SEPTA was burdened with a seemingly endless series of delays, including a pandemic, supply chain disruptions and – just as the work was nearing completion last fall – draconian cuts to SEPTA’s budget and transit services when the state Legislature failed to fully fund its operating budget. A reprieve came only after Gov. Josh Shapiro authorized use of money set aside for capital projects to pay for the agency’s day-to-day expenses.
The station reopening follows the recent presentation of design plans for the transformation of Ardmore’s nearby Schauffele Plaza and an adjacent parking lot into a verdant town square. Both projects are elements of the township’s ambitious Ardmore Master Plan of 2023, which envisions the station area as a regional transit hub, serving as a gateway to Suburban Square, downtown Ardmore and the greater Main Line. Long-range planning includes construction of a multi-modal, muti-use parking garage with ground-level retail and access to national and regional rail service as well as local bus lines.
