Delaware County has embarked on an ambitious plan to create a new state-of-the-art County park on the former Don Guanella School site, adjacent to Cardinal O’Hara High School in Marple Township.
The site of the future park consists of 213 acres that is home to woodlands (Delco’s largest undeveloped forest!), wetlands, meadows, and creeks, and is home to many wildlife and bird species.
Preservation of the undeveloped natural lands (nearly 175 acres) remains the signature priority of the County, while plans for exciting community-inspired recreational facilities and features continue to take shape as the Master Plan for the as-yet named new park nears completion.
The County — with significant input from the community — is working to complete its Park Master Plan in late 2023.
Over the past year, the experienced award-winning team of Toole Recreation Planning, JMT (Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson), Natural Lands, and Urban Partners has collaborated closely with County Department managers and staff, landscape architects, engineers, environmental scientists, community, parks, and recreation planners, and many other experts from a variety of disciplines to craft a plan that will serve the needs of the community and respect our need for undeveloped open green space.
Details about the plan are available on the New Park Master Plan website.