Delco Woods
Delco Woods is situated on 213 acres in Marple Township and is home to the County’s largest undeveloped forest. Featuring wetlands, meadows, and creeks, the site provides important habitat to many wildlife and bird species, and it offers nature enthusiasts a convenient preserve in the heart of a bustling section of Delaware County. Flanked by Sproul Road and Reed Road, Delco Woods sits adjacent to Cardinal O’Hara High School and across from the Lawrence Park Home Depot. For improved access, the County created a new parking lot on Reed Road (between Sproul Road and South Parkway Boulevard), which can hold approximately forty cars.
Hiking trails through the woods are open to the public during daylight hours and may be accessed from the Delco Woods parking lot on Reed Road. (Please note that there is currently no public access from Sproul Road.)
A new bed of native plantings next to the parking lot and in front of the Trailhead is one of many projects in the ongoing improvement process.
Streambank Stabilization
Staff from the Parks & Recreation Department and the Conservation District lining the streambank of Whetstone Run with spent evergreens.
Anchoring spent trees along streambanks is a low-cost, effective method to reduce water velocity and erosion. Cut trees used for Delaware County’s Festival of Lights have been “recycled” for this Delco Woods project. This method has been successful in Glen Providence Park and is being replicated in other watershed areas.
Looking Ahead
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 new park nears completion.
The County — with significant input from the community — is working with the award-winning team of Toole Recreation Planning and 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.
