PARRC's Summer Projects Expand Recreation Options

Towpath Park

Big changes are coming to local parks across the Pottstown region. The new park improvements aim to create accessible and active spaces for everyone to enjoy. In East Coventry Township, construction has officially begun at Towpath Park, located at 1675 New Schuylkill Road. The project includes a new riverside trail that will connect with the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT), forming a loop. Alongside the trail, the park is getting brand-new playground equipment, expanded parking to support more visitors, fresh landscaping, and updated signs to help visitors navigate the space. These upgrades are made possible by receiving $866,000 in grant funding from Chester County, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Commonwealth Financing Authority, the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation (PAHWF), and a private donor. While the park itself will close temporarily during construction the SRT will stay open throughout the process, and it is accessible at Fricks Lock and Parkerford trailheads. The construction is expected to wrap up by early fall.

South Street Park

Construction continues in Pottstown Borough at South Street Park, at 445 South Street, where a major project is underway. The park is receiving a full upgrade that includes ADA-accessible playground equipment, a new paved path that will circle the perimeter, stormwater improvements, benches, and new landscaping. The redevelopment is being funded through a combination of local, state, and private contributions. The Borough of Pottstown received a $85,200 grant from the DCNR through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). Additional support includes $65,170 from the Commonwealth Finance Authority’s Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program, $14,400 from Pottstown Parks and Recreation, and a $60,000 match from the Pottstown Parks Capital Fund. The project also benefits from $10,000 in private funding and an $8,000 contribution from PAHWF. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2025.

Ringing Rocks Park

Over in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Ringing Rocks Park has recently benefited from a series of improvements. These include a newly paved driveway and parking area, the addition of an ADA-accessible bench near the pond, and updated park signage to better guide visitors. The upgrades were made possible through grant funding from PAHWF and the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC), with contributions totaling $33,400. Just a few miles away in West Pottsgrove Township, new interpretive signage and bird houses were recently installed at Murgia Park on Manatawny Street. The signs are installed along the path that winds through the park, and inform visitors about local wildlife, aquatic life, the importance of trees, native birds, and more. Also in West Pottsgrove, construction has started at Old Timer's Field, located at 980 Grosstown Road. The upgrades include the baseball field upgrades to improve drainage, a new backstop, and outfield fencing. A rain garden will be constructed to assist with drainage, ADA access will be improved, the parking lot will be resurfaced, and new LED lighting will be installed. Grant funding totaling $360,000 was received from DCNR, Montgomery County, PAHWF and a private donor to make the improvements.