Shortridge Civic Association of Wynnewood

Friends of Shortridge Park

view of Shortridge Park, with green grass in the foreground and trees in the background

Since the winter of 2022–2023, community members and neighbors have come together to care for and improve Shortridge Park. What began as an informal volunteer effort has grown into the officially established Friends of Shortridge Park, a community group dedicated to the park’s long-term stewardship. The Friends work year-round to remove invasive, non-native plants; plant canopy and understory trees, shrubs, pollinator-friendly native plants, and ground cover; and organize volunteer workdays that bring the community together. The group also works in partnership with the LMT Parks and Recreation Department to support the park’s health, beauty, and accessibility for everyone.

Interested in volunteering in the park? Reach out to shortridgeparkfriends@gmail.com

Follow the Friends of Shortridge Park on Facebook or Instagram for regular updates.

Recent Updates

  • 2026 Spring Shortridge Park Updates
    • Several volunteer days were held to continue the removal of invasives, and plant natives on Hemlock Hill, along the creek and other areas, and in the perennial meadow.
    • Planted over 50 native shrubs and trees generously donated by Lower Merion Conservancy.
    • Trimmed back standing plant debris, collected/cleared debris in several areas, and cut up and removed a large split willow overhanging the creek.
    • In March, installed almost 200 live stakes (e.g., elderberry, buttonbush, willow, dogwood) along the creek on both sides between Remington Road and the grassy bridge.
    • In April, participated in the Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) 42nd Annual Watershed Cleanup. Conducted an end-to-end (Remington to Wynnewood Road) creek cleanup and collected several bags of trash.
    • In April, installed two native pollinator gardens in the meadow. The pollinator gardens were funded by Peter’s Pollinators program at Riverbend Environmental Education Center, with a generous gift from Peter Grove and Nancy Greene. The installation was coordinated by Michelle Detwiler, Wild About Natives.
    • In June, writer-naturalist Mike Weilbacher led a nature walk for almost 30 people to introduce participants to some of the park’s most intriguing natural neighbors – dawn redwoods, white pines, red-tailed hawks, and more. He also interpreted the ecology – and a little history – of Indian Creek.I
    • In June, installed ropes and posts around the meadow to clearly define the space, protect native flora, and preserve the wildlife habitat.
    • Continue to monitor young trees and shrubs planted along the creek near Remington Road; cutting some tubes back, and transitioning some tubes to cages. As of November 2025, there were 248 healthy plants (175 tubes and 73 cages), with an 83% survival rate of the approximately 300 trees and shrubs planted in 2023 and 2024.
  • 2025 Fall Shortridge Park Updates

    • Several volunteer days were held to continue the removal of invasives, as well as plant natives on Hemlock HIll, along the creek and other areas, and in the perennial meadow.
    • Community members continued to donate native plants and shrubs for planting.
    • LMT Parks and Recreation donated and installed a job box for the volunteers to store tools and hoses onsite at the park.
    • A colony of European Black Alders near the Remington Road bridge was cut down.
    • Lower Merion Conservancy donated over 40 trees and shrubs that were planted by volunteers (including staghorn sumac, sweetbay magnolia, itea virginica, and arrowwood viburnum). We are grateful for their generosity.
    • A well attended Community Discussion was held in the park in October to discuss accomplishments, review ongoing work, and identify community priorities for future projects and areas of focus.
    • Teen volunteers from Beth Am Israel synagogue worked on weeding, mulching, and watering as well as tree planting in the park tree nursery.
  • 2025 Summer Shortridge Park Updates

    Over 20 volunteers participated in a Summer Volunteer Cleanup Day. Work continued on the meadow as volunteers planted dozens of native plants and flowers, weeded, and mulched. A group of volunteers focused on clearing invasive vines and plants from the native trees and shrubs in the tubes and cages near the Remington Road bridge. Work also continues on clearing invasive from the wooded area behind the meadow. Additional volunteers walked the creek and picked up trash.

  • 2025 Spring Shortridge Park Updates

    • 22 volunteers, including neighbors, Cub Scouts and students from The Agnes Irwin School and Marple Newtown High School, participated in the Spring Volunteer Cleanup day and DCVA annual watershed cleanup. Several large alder trees were cut; gator watering bags were set up around newly planted trees; several bags of trash was cleared from the length of the creek; dozens of natives flowers and plants were planted in the meadow by the sledding hill; several saplings were transitioned from tubes to wire cages, and a massive amount of creek debris was cleaned up near the Remington Road bridge to enable creek water to flow easily.’
    • Dozens of live stakes were planted along the riparian area. Live staking uses stem cuttings inserted into stream banks to reintroduce plant life, establishing a root network and preventing soil loss.
  • 2025 Winter Shortridge Park Updates

    • With support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Environmental Education Grant, Lower Merion Conservancy (LMC) and Dr. Steve Goldsmith of Villanova University installed new water quality equipment in Shortridge Park. These monitoring stations and sensors are a crucial part of LMC’s ongoing research into the impact of road salt on our waterways.
    • In March, teen volunteers from Beth Am Israel synagogue worked with Friends of Shortridge Park to transport and spread hardwood chips around more than 20 Swamp White Oak saplings that self-seeded along the creek. 
    • Installed a rain gauge that is monitored daily by a volunteer affiliated with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network; the gauge measures both rainfall and snowfall. This is one of 26,000 reporting sites across the US.
  • 2024 Fall Shortridge Park Updates

    • 23 bare root trees were provided by PA Horticultural Society (PHS) and planted by Ardmore Tree Tenders, Friends of Shortridge Park, and volunteers. The LMT Shade Tree Division provided wood chips for mulching, while the LMT Parks & Rec delivered the trees and provided funds to purchase the trees.
    • 124 small trees were secured as part of the 10 Million Trees for PA project with planting in November 2024. Neighbors donated and planted native flowers in the meadow area at the bottom of Hemlock Hill. Employees from CMI Media Group and Friends of Shortridge volunteers replaced over forty white tree tubes with wire cages, provided by LMT Parks and Recreation. The tubes were donated to Fort Washington State Park.
    • Developed planting plans for donated plants from neighbors & community members.
  • 2024 Summer Shortridge Park Updates

    • Volunteers devoted over 100 hours to park care and maintenance.
    • Applied for a Clean Air Council Grant (summer 2024). The grant request included a water pump, hoses, plants, and signage.
  • 2023 Summer/Fall Shortridge Park Updates

    • Planted 160 trees as part of the Ten Million Trees for PA program. Success rate as of September 2024 has been approximately 80 percent.
    • Volunteers devoted many hours to park care.
    • Stream bank was repaired with boulders, erosion control mats, and coir logs.

Ongoing Efforts: 

  • Donation of native plants and flowers from community members/neighbors.
  • Intent to fund short- and long-term invasive plant removal and management plan.
  • Coordination of volunteer events throughout the year to plan, plant, and remove invasives throughout the park.
  • Creation and maintenance of a butterfly garden and native gardens along the Shortridge Drive side near the pedestrian bridge.
  • Coordination with Darby Creek Valley Association Annual Clean Up to clean up the creek from Remington Road to Wynnewood Road.
  • Engagement of neighbors and community members via Shortridge Neighbors Facebook group and Lower Merion Park Volunteers Meetup Group.

Partnering with Lower Merion Township (LMT) Parks and Recreation Department

  • Provision of welded-wire cages and wooden stakes for saplings planted.
  • Herbicide (glyphosate) treatment of knotweed.
  • Remove piles of invasive plant debris created by volunteers during cleanup events.
  • Directing the mowers to widen the riparian area.
  • Installation of larger woody trees and shrubs (forthcoming).
  • Removal of large invasive trees (European Black Alders).
  • Removal of Poison Hemlock.
  • Approving a Clean Air Council mini-grant submitted in the summer of 2024.

Future Plans:

  • Creation of permanent information signs
  • Creation of Tree Maps
  • Installation of Tree Identification Tags
  • Considering pursuing Level 1 Arboretum Accreditation Status

Planting Plans:

planting-plans-9-2026Download

For Additional Information and Resources: