The document discusses the importance of open space to residents of Upper Providence Township. It highlights results from the 2005 Comprehensive Plan survey that show residents value parks and open spaces. Over 60% of residents get their water from Ridley Creek, so maintaining high water quality through open space preservation is important. However, there is development pressure that could threaten environmentally sensitive lands. The Township group UPOS works to preserve open spaces in line with the Comprehensive Plan and sees Scott Park as a valuable educational resource due to its diverse ecosystems.

1. Why is Open Space Important? Upper Providence for Open Space

2. Agenda Why Is This an Issue For Upper Providence? What do our residents want? Comprehensive Plan results UPOS – Mission for Open Space Role in the community Current Open Space and How It Is Used Role of Scott Park as a Township Asset

3. Open Spaces Are Our Treasures! Residents value the “green” quality of the Township Rose Tree Park and Ridley Creek State Park are the most-identified UP “treasures.” These treasures are cited as treasures by residents across all five districts. 10 of the top 15 treasures identified are “Open Space” type of facilities Comprehensive Plan of 2005 – Public Survey Results p.15

4. Willingness to Pay Additional Taxes for Various Initiatives Residents have already voted in favor of the $6M bond for Open Space Comprehensive Plan of 2005 – Public Survey Results p.11

5. Residents Recognize Sensitivity of Maintaining Open Space Community Vision: “There was strong support for keeping permanent open spaces in a more or less natural condition, as formal recreational facilities attract more use and exacerbate the traffic problem.” (Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 3, p.4) Weaknesses: “There is increasing inappropriate development of environmentally sensitive lands: steep slope areas and lands containing or immediately adjacent to floodplain areas are of particular concern.” (Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 5, p.2)

6. Protection of Natural Resources “The natural resources noted by the Municipalities Planning Code are wetlands and other aquifer recharge zones, woodlands, steep slope areas, prime agricultural land, floodplains, and ‘unique natural areas.’ The MPC adds that municipalities are not limited by this list, but may provide for the protection of other resources of local importance.” “Extensive loss of wooded area could lead to serious problems for the Township: woods are not only scenic, but provide tangible benefits by controlling stormwater runoff and the effects of erosion (critical in steep areas), modulating extreme temperatures, controlling windborne dust, and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.” (Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 10, p.2-3)

8. “The Township will pursue the development of additional facilities for active recreation (such as improved playing fields, courts, and other support infrastructure), seeking out opportunities to partner with like-minded public and private organizations, including the Delaware County Parks Department regarding utilization of Rose Tree Park.”(Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 6, p.4-5)

10. “The Township may develop and enforce regulations that will assure that development is executed in an environmentally sensitive manner.”

11. “The Township may seek funding to assist with the preservation and protection of environmentally sensitive areas, including but not necessarily limited to funding to conduct studies supporting environmental preservation policies, site-specific plans, and acquisition.”

12. “The Township desires to protect its water resources particularly and may implement regulations and/or seek funding as appropriate to develop plans and regulations to protect groundwater, wetlands, and stream corridors, as well as regulations to assure proper flood control, stormwater management, and maintenance of flood control and stormwater management facilities.”

13. “Public access and recreational use of public open spaces will generally be subsidiary to the environmental preservation function.”(Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 6, p.4-5)

14. Agenda Why Is This an Issue For Upper Providence? What do our residents want? Comprehensive Plan results UPOS – Mission for Open Space Role in the community Current Open Space and How It Is Used Role of Scott Park as a Township Asset

15. Upper Providence for Open Space Mission: To assist in preserving and protecting open space, including wetlands, watersheds, flora, and fauna. The primary goal of the group is the conservation of ecosystems and landscapes of regional and local value for the benefit of this and future generations. We like the plan, and we expect the Township to follow it!!

16. What UPOS Has Done Formed in 2001 – 100+ Concerned citizens/residents Prime mover in getting out the vote in support of ballot initiative resulting in $6M for open space acquisitions Active involvement in the township acquisition of the Lavin Tract Monitoring the development of additional tracts to ensure resource preservation and open space issues are considered fully Begun the process of site maintenance and improvement at Scott Park Increased UP citizens’ awareness of open space issues Creek clean-up activities Working with CRC currently on Crum and Ridley Creek Clean-Up Day

17. What UPOS Would Like to Do Work hand-in-hand with the Township to implement the resource conservation and open space policies spelled out in the 2005 Comprehensive Plan Help the township manage its open spaces through the acquisition of grants to develop and manage open space lands Serve as a resource to the Township as stewards of our open spaces Educate the citizens of UP and future generations regarding open space and conservation issues Obtain needed environmental assessments of sensitive areas

18. Agenda Why Is This an Issue For Upper Providence? What do our residents want? Comprehensive Plan results UPOS – Mission for Open Space Role in the community Current Open Space and How It Is Used Role of Scott Park as a Township Asset

19. Upper Providence Parks Rose Tree Park Ridley Creek State Park Berman Park Ray Roche Park Scott Park Martin Park Cherry Street Field Glen Providence Park Weldon Park Houtman Park Thompson Park

20. UP Township Parks & Usage ** Open Space Acquisition by UP Township

21. UP Township Parks & Usage

22. Balancing Usage Demands Scenic Vista Concerts Softball Soccer Events Dogs Fishing Each site has specific uses dictated by the nature of the site itself. Not all sites are appropriate for all uses!! Football Lacrosse Kites Nature Hiking Birding Education Baseball

23. UP As Part of a Larger Watershed

27. “If the demand for housing in the Township remains strong, developers will continue to maximize the yield of available land, erecting new homes wherever physically possible, and expanding the definition of what is considered ‘developable land.’ This is likely to result in increasing pressure upon the Township to raise allowable density and to relax restrictions based upon environmental considerations.” (Comprehensive Plan of 2005 Chapter 15, p. 5)

28. DEP Issues Guidelines “The DEP's new guidance document will require that developers control the amount of storm water discharged when development is complete. To do so, DEP now requires real estate developers to construct less impervious surfaces than before and create more opportunities for storm water to soak into the ground - requirements that go beyond the federal requirements to control storm water. The state also places even more regulatory restrictions on storm water discharges arising from new real estate developments that are located in watersheds with very high water quality, known as ‘special protection’ watersheds in regulatory parlance.” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 19, 2007

29. UPOS Concerns Expand open space opportunities through acquisition Retain “green” feel to the Township Ensure environmentally sensitive areas are not compromised Strictly enforce current codes and ordinances Expand codes/ordinances to maintain aspects of the community which are so valued today. Ensure protection of high quality aquatic ecosystem

30. Agenda Why Is This an Issue For Upper Providence? What do our residents want? Comprehensive Plan results UPOS – Mission for Open Space Role in the community Current Open Space and How It Is Used Role of Scott Park as a Township Asset

31. Upper Providence Township Water Supply Scott Park Route 1 By-Pass Ridley Creek Road Baltimore Pike

32. The Media Wetlands Identified in the Delaware County Natural Areas Inventory (1992) as “an area of local significance worthy of preservation.” Found by the EPA’s Delaware Estuary Program to be of sufficient importance for inclusion in a list of worthy restoration and enhancement projects within the entire estuary. Source: Media Wetlands Resource Conservation Plan, Natural Resources Conservation Service, December 1999

33. The Media Wetlands “Supports a diverse assemblage of wetland plants, as well as animal species increasingly uncommon in the Philadelphia suburbs.” “Its location in the densely developed suburbs of central Delaware County is remarkable. …” Source: Media Wetlands Resource Conservation Plan, Natural Resources Conservation Service, December 1999

34. It is important to provide an appropriate setting for environmental education to occur. Peter Williamson Natural Lands Trust National Science Standards call for children to have skills to posit theories based upon direct observation and data collection. Education should be hands on, participatory and informed by a “more tender trotting upon the land.” Lynn Oberfield Head, Media Providence Friends School

35. Scott Park: Unique in Having the Five Major Ecosystems Scott Park has the five ecosystems that are the subject of environmental studies in PA: Meadow Stream Pond Woods Wetlands Proposed legislation would mandate environmental study as part of science testing in 2007.

36. Scott Park: Meadow

37. Scott Park: Stream

38. Scott Park: Pond

39. Scott Park: Woods

40. Scott Park: Wetlands

41. A natural area with few improvements provides the best learning environment across a range of curricula. Meg Barney, Ed.D. Research & Development Specialist Rose Tree Media School District, Education Center

42. Signage

43. Access to Protected Areas

44. Access to Protected Areas

45. Observation Posts for Wildlife Monitoring

46. Outdoor Classroom

47. Upper Providence Township has acquired a treasure. The environmental education of its children could be greatly enhanced through the study of many aspects of this property. Steven Eisenhauer (Upon viewing Scott Park) Regional Director of Stewardship and Protection Natural Lands Trust, Peek Preserve, NJ (9,000 acres)

48. Natural Areas Support Passive Recreation Hiking Fishing Bird watching Wildlife appreciation

49. Delco Anglers and preservationists are willing and ready to work with Upper Providence Township on improvements to Ridley Creek at the Scott Park to enhance recreational fishing, as they have in Ridley Creek State Park. Steve Kosiak Delco Anglers

50. Scott Park Clean-Up Under Way

51. “This park is a part of our future. …the next generation, the next five generations, will never imagine what it would have been like without this.” Bill O’Donnell, former Township Councilman