DV Journal

From a press release 

Delaware County Council was thrilled to join the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the county’s Department of Public Works, members of the Parks and Recreation Board, elected officials, and dozens of local football players, cheerleaders and their families to announce the completion of the $1.7 million capital improvement project at Upland Park on September 27.

Spanning 60 scenic acres, Upland Park is the fourth-largest county park and a much-loved part of the community. In the past year, significant improvements have been made to make this park a welcoming gathering place for everyone in the community.

Improvements to Upland Park include:

• A new playground with sensory activities for children with special needs
• Natural grass athletic fields
• Energy-efficient state-of-the-art LED lighting
• ADA-compliant parking spaces
• Environmentally friendly paved walking path
• Stormwater improvements
• Updates to the Redwood Center (including replacement of the roof and new exterior signage)

“One of the many things that makes Delco a great place to live, work, and visit is its broad array of outdoor activities, including trails and paths for hiking and biking, parks, and green spaces for enjoying time with friends and family,” said Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “Over the past few years, we have seen the ways outdoor space enhances our quality of life and it also has a tangible economic benefit in our community.”

Council’s appreciation of open space is shown through the dramatic expansion and improvement of the county’s park and greenways in recent years. In addition to Delaware County Council’s $1.78 million to upgrade Upland Park, the County’s 2023 capital improvement program includes $9 million for parks, trails, and open space projects. The county has also invested over $17 million  in helping municipalities invest in their own green spaces through our Delco Greenways grant program.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provided a grant in the amount of $57,800 to support the project, and to the Office of Housing and Community Development for their grant in the amount of $250,000.

On Friday, Earth Day, Chester County officials plan to cut the ribbon on a new section of trail running along the Schuylkill River.

The public is invited to the event, hosted by the Chester County Commissioners and Chester County Parks and Preservation staff, which begins at 2 p.m. at 500 Fricks Lock Road in Pottstown.

This is part of Chester County’s final phase of trail development – a $6 million, four-mile paved extension that takes the Schuylkill River Trail from Linfield Road at Parker Ford to the new Route 422 Bridge crossing of the Schuylkill River at the Montgomery County border, officials said.  The four-mile extension will complete one of the priority “puzzle pieces”, helping fill a gap in the nearly 60 miles of trail connecting Reading to Philadelphia.

With the completion of this phase, the Chester County Section of the Schuylkill River Trail will parallel the Schuylkill River from the Route 422 Bridge at Pottstown, south to the Route 29 Bridge into Mont Clare, a distance of approximately 12 miles.

Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline, along with state DCNR Deputy Secretary Mike Walsh, PennDOT District 6-0 Acting Executive Lou Belmonte, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Sarah Clark Stuart, and East Coventry Township Supervisor Chair Ray Kolb are expected to comment.

According to the Schuylkill Greenways group, there are about 75 miles of the trail, which starts in Philadelphia and will run to Schuylkill County, completed.

Following the program and ribbon cutting, you can cycle or walk a portion of the trail south of Fricks Lock Village, or complete a guided tour of Fricks Lock Village hosted by the East Coventry Township Historical Commission.

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Just in time for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, Delaware County’s latest and much-anticipated fun spot has opened: Energy Transfer Veterans Memorial Rink.

Skaters lost no time gliding on the ice at the new 60-by-100 foot ice skating rink in Edgemont, sipping hot cocoa, or relaxing by a fire pit. A ribbon-cutting Thursday with speeches from dignitaries marked the opening of the new rink, operated by Flight on Ice.

Steve Byrne, executive director of Visit Delco PA told the Delaware Valley Journal that they had been discussing the idea of an ice rink for the county for six years and are thrilled it’s finally happened.  Construction workers spent many hours transforming the empty parking lot on West Chester Pike into a winter wonderland for Delaware County residents and visitors to enjoy.

“The goal is to be a three or four months attraction,” Byrne said. He hopes skaters can enjoy the rink into March “as long as the weather holds up.”

(Left To Right): Paul de Botton,National Reality Corporation; Ron Gravina, chairman, Edgmont Township Board of Supervisors; Rep. Chris Quinn; Claude de Botton, National Reality Corporation; Joe McGinn, Energy Transfer; Steve Byrne, Visit Delco, PA; Colby Cohen, Flight Entertainment; Mike de Botton, National Reality Corporation; Sen. John Kane; Sen. Tim Kearney; Chief Joe Daly, president, Delaware County Veterans Memorial; Jon Schaffer, Flight Entertainment

“There’s something for all ages. Families, college kids coming home, they can hang out at the fire put and have fun,” said Byrne. “It’s something different. I overheard somebody saying, ‘This is what Delco needed.'”

Former National Hockey League player and Radnor native Colby Cohen led the ribbon cutting.

“Just about every day of my childhood I passed by this piece of land. To be able to bring an outdoor rink to Delaware County is truly incredible,” Cohen said. “This is a very special night and I’m glad to share it with a community that shaped me into the person I am today.”

The former defenseman played for the Colorado Avalanche and in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, the minor league affiliate of the Boston Bruins. Cohen currently works as a studio analyst for Chicago Blackhawks games on NBC Sports Chicago.

State Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Media) came out to lend his support, along with state Senators John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), and Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware).

“One of the best parts about being a state representative is to see your community come together at a great attraction like an outdoor ice rink,” Quinn said. “This is where family memories are created.”

This family-friendly attraction also includes ice skating sessions, a lounge area, a 2,000-sqaure-foot heated tent, and various food and beverage options.

Jon Schaffer, owner and president of Flight Entertainment has been aspiring to open a Flight on Ice location in Delaware County for quite some time. There are currently Flight Entertainment locations in Egg Harbor City and Long Branch, New Jersey, as well as Albany, N.Y.

“Our company is based in Delco, I’m from Delco, and it’s our backyard,” Schaffer told Main Line Today. “I couldn’t picture doing any more of these (Flight on Ice rinks) without doing one in Delaware County.”

One of Schaffer’s goals is to raise proceeds for the Veterans Memorial Charitable Foundation through different events and fundraisers. This includes every Monday being a day for veterans to contribute to the charity.

Paul de Botton, and the de Botton family, who own the land where the rink is located, also donated the site of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial

The rink will stay open throughout the winter, possibly into March if the weather permits.  It’s open from Monday through Friday will be 3-10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

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