Since winter of 2022-2023, a group of community members and neighbors have been gradually building an informal friends group that is committed to active maintenance and support of the park. The group works together to remove non-native, aggressive plants; plant large trees, understory trees, shrubs, pollinator plants, and ground cover; and coordinate volunteer events. The group also collaborates with the LMT Parks and Recreation Department.
Interested in volunteering in the park? Reach out to shortridgeparkfriends@gmail.com
Recent Updates:
2024 Fall:
- 160 small trees and shrubs have been requested as part of the Million Trees PA program. We are awaiting confirmation of donation.
- Developed planting plans for donated plants from neighbors & community members.
2024 Summer:
- 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:
- 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
For Additional Information and Resources:
Lower Merion Township (LMT) Sustainability Plan (June 2023)
The Greater and Greener Plan (2012 – 2021) Parks & Recreation Update
LMT The Greater and Greener Plan
Lower Merion Township Shortridge Memorial Park Master Plan 2014
Shortridge Memorial Park Master Plan 2014
Friends of Lower Merion Parks
Friends of Lower Merion Parks – Lower Merion Township
Shortridge Park – Lower Merion Township
Shortridge Park Location, Address, Amenities – LMT Website
The Lower Merion Historical Society