Ryan Allen Plaza Nears Completion In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —The borough has a new look in its downtown.

Two months after the equipment was brought in, the borough has completed a plaza that will be dedicated to fallen police officer Ryan Allen.

The Gardeners of Crooked Billet's community gardening group was out late last week to assist the Hatboro Borough Public Works Department in planting their new planters.

With the one-year anniversary of the death of Allen recently, the borough is paying its respects to the fallen officer by creating the Ryan Allen Plaza.

A formal dedication by borough officials of the plaza at South York Road near the entrance to the driveway of Produce Junction is expected sometime in September.

Hatboro officials said the plaza at 49 S. York Rd. comes courtesy of a nearly $40,000 T-Mobile Smart Growth America and Main Street America grant. A check presentation took place last April.

The plaza will include new benches, flowers, the plaque dedicated to Allen, new trash receptacles, and new sidewalks.

Allen, a police officer since 2013 who was the borough's K-9 officer, died on April 7, 2022, six months after having a heart attack following a freak bee sting incident.

Allen never had allergic reactions to bees and had been stung before. But in October 2021, he experienced an anaphylactic shock from a bee sting and suffered a heart attack. He never recovered.

"I think Ryan really represented the best of our town," Mayor Tim Schultz told Patch in late June about the plaza being built in Allen's memory. "He was a selfless guy who was engaged in the community. He spent a lot of time in our schools and was a great role model to our kids. His death was a real blow to the community. His passing was unfortunate, but I think it's appropriate that we honor someone who really was selfless."

(Photo Courtesy of the Gardeners of Crooked Billet)