​Newtown Borough To Celebrate The Opening Of Patriots Park On Sunday

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of Newtown’s newest neighborhood park on Sunday, September 29.

Patriots Park - a preserved patch of green space at the corner of Mercer and Court Streets - will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.

Members of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County will provide music and light refreshments will be served.

When the passive recreation park opens, residents and visitors can enjoy the landscape plantings, the shade provided by the sprawling white oak tree, and the small open lawn from sun rise to sun down.

“We’re encouraging people to come out, sit down and enjoy the park,” said Councilor Julia Woldorf, who has spearheaded the park project for the borough. “Bring your coffee. Bring your croissant. We encourage people to sit on the lawn, sit on the benches. It’s going to be a lovely spot.”

Added former councilor Tara Grunde McLaughlin, “One thing the borough never had was a place to take your sandwich and coffee and just sit. Now we have a park with plantings and flowers and you can come and enjoy, see your neighbors. It’s also a great place for children to run around and play.”

Volunteers lend a hand during a community planting at the park. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The herb garden. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Newly-planted flowers at Patriots Park. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Youngsters water some of the newly-planted vegetation. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

In preparation for the opening, teams of volunteers descended on the park last weekend for a community planting event that saw hundreds of native plants added to the park’s landscape.

“We had children and adults helping out,” said Woldorf. “Because the soil was compacted and very dry, it was hard work. There will be a lot of sore people tomorrow," she said. "But we got it done. We are grateful to everyone who came out to help. We just need some rain now."

Designed by NAM Planning & Design, LLC, and built by Gasper Landscape Design & Construction, the park with walking paths and period landscape reflects the style of gardens back in Colonial times, which would have included plants native to America as well as those brought over from England.

Colonial gardens had clearly defined paths and garden bed edges, said Woldorf. “Paths were simple and direct and often made of gravel or brick. There would be trellises and arbors supporting native vines,” she said.

“The plantings also reflect the history of that property, which was the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish,” said Woldorf.

During that skirmish, Loyalists raided the property where tailors were mending and making uniforms for Patriots encamped at Valley Forge. During the 1778 skirmish, five Patriots were killed, four were wounded, 11 were taken prisoner, and 2,000 yards of cloth were destroyed or
taken.

To reflect that history, Woldorf said some of the plantings selected for inclusion at the park were used in the early manufacturing of fabrics. “All those things are part of the park's design with historical elements woven into the landscaping.”

In addition, Woldorf said the park is designed to protect and preserve a large spreading white oak tree on the property. “We assume it’s a couple hundred years old,” she said. A second tree - a Hackberry -on the north side of the carriage house has been designated as a historic tree.

The park also contains a herb garden lush with plantings like thyme, rosemary, mint, sage, and more. A memorial tree and stone are also located at the park honoring the memory of the late Sue Turner, who served as council president from January 2022 to August 2022.

Gasper Landscape Design & Construction completed construction of the new park in mid-July, installing new fencing, paths, and benches; planting of trees and shrubs; and preparing planting beds.

“We hope it will become the venue for small concerts where people can sit and listen. It’s going to be a very peaceful spot that will enhance the neighborhood," said Woldorf.

The borough, with the assistance of the Newtown Historical Association and private donations, purchased the property in 2019, saving it from being redeveloped by the former owners of the Bird In Hand.

Funding for Patriots Park was provided by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund; the Bucks County Municipal Open Space Program; the PECO Green Region Open Space Program; and local donors.

This is the second park spearheaded by Woldorf. She was also able to secure grant funding to landscape the Newtown Commons Park at the foot of West Greene Street. That project won the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence.