Pennypack
Park, known as the “green heart” of Northeast Philadelphia,
is another gem in the system managed by the Fairmount Park Commission.
This unique park covers 1,600 acres of property and includes eight
linear miles of trail. The park’s woodlands, meadows, and wetlands
provide a natural world in the midst of urban development.
Pennypack is easily accessible and widely used by the community as
well as people living in suburbia who travel here on the weekends
seeking refuge in a pleasant outdoor environment. With all of these
folks coming into the park, there are likely to be issues from trail
maintenance to just plain old trash.
This is where the volunteers come in. Budget cuts have severely taken
affect on the number of staff available to maintain this huge park
system so volunteers play a vital role in preserving these natural
areas. The Friends of Pennypack Park was created in 1987 when several
individuals decided to do something about their concerns for the decline
in the park’s condition. They advocated for the park and actively
worked to improve its condition.
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I met up with workers from two special volunteer
groups committed the park’s preservation; the Trails and Tree
(TNT) crew and the Gator Patrol. Combined, these small groups commit
over 2,000 hours each year on maintenance projects and trash patrol.
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