Can We Open the Clark Nature Center Trails?

The Clark Nature Center is a 50.6 acre park located on Durham Road (Rt. 413) in Newtown Township. The park includes a wilderness trail that loops the entire property along two seasonal streams (see image below). Hikers can escape the daily hustle and bustle and take in all the sights and sounds of nature. If you are quiet enough, you may see turkey, deer, and the numerous species of birds that call this park home. [Source: A History of Land Ownership, Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1683 – 1850, by Thomas C. Mayer, Newtown Historic Association.]

That describes how the park offered an escape to hikers before the trails were closed “indefinitely” to the public in the spring of 2017 due to trees killed by an insect known as the Emerald Ash Borer (read "Clark Nature Center Trails Closed 'Indefinitely' Due To Emerald Ash Borer Infestation"). But after 4 years of inaction, I think it's time to have a plan to do what is necessary to safely open these trails again to the public.

Plans for Stream Bank Restoration in the Park

I was reminded of the closed trails in the park when, on May 12, 2021, the Newtown Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to apply for a Watershed Restoration and Protection Program grant of $299,131.88 to be used for the Clark Nature Center Stream Bank Rehabilitation project. The total estimated cost of phase 1 of the project (see image below) is $344,001.66. The township will have to come up the additional needed $45,000 from other sources such as the Parks & Rec Capital Fund. See the video below showing what's involved in stream bank restoration.

A Walk Along the Blue Trail

Along with resident Elen Snyder, a 2021 candidate for Newtown Supervisor, I recently walked the 1-mile Blue Trail in the park. The purpose was to evaluate for ourselves the potential danger of dead ash trees to hikers and to get an idea of the condition of the stream banks.

Although there was a sign in the parking area notifying visitors that the trails were closed, there were no barricades to prevent access to the trails.

There are two trails: (1) Blue Trail and (2) Green Trail. The latter was extremely overgrown and inaccessible whereas the grassy Blue Trail is walkable. Apparently, this trail is being mowed - probably to allow the township to evaluate the stream banks.

We saw many dead ash trees while walking the trail. The majority of these were too far from the trail to present a danger to hikers if they fell. In at least two spots, however, there were dead trees strewn across the trail (see photo montage below).

This has to be the most wild habitat/open space in Newtown Township. Obviously, like any wooded area there will always be risks to people who choose to walk there. The Blue Trail, however, was easy to navigate without the need to clear a path through the bush. The only danger Elen and I experienced were the deer tics, several of which had to picked off our necks and bodies.

We saw several dead trees near the trail that could eventually fall on the trail and possibly hit hikers. Of course, the odds of that happening are pretty low unless you are walking the trail during a heavy windstorm. Nevertheless, we felt it would be a good idea to mitigate the danger of falling trees.

Removal of Dangerous Trees May Be Less Expensive Than Anticipated

Elen is a member of the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and is an expert on trees and watershed protection. In 2019, she worked with Joyce Ely, President of the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Association, to enhance the use, appeal and ecological health of Roberts Ridge Park and its watershed through a native tree planting project (read "Friends of Roberts Ridge Park Plan to Plant Tens of Native Trees"). It was through those efforts that the open space of the park was preserved while helping to prevent runoff into our streams (read “Friends of Roberts Ridge Park Plan to Plant Tens of Native Trees”).

On our walk, Elen pointed out that removing the danger of dead ash trees may be less complicated and expensive than suggested by the township. Obviously it is best to remove dead trees very close to the trails. But the majority of these trees can be left standing with cuts made into some of them to ensure that when they do fall, they fall away from the trail. Also, it is not necessary to remove cut trees.

What Needs To Be Done

We need an inventory to determine the actual cost of removing the trees that would be a danger to hikers if the trails were opened. I would concentrate on the Blue Trail and do away with the Green Trail, which is in any case inaccessible.

The first step needed in order to get a good idea of the costs involved is an inventory of existing dead trees that are the most likely to fall on the trail. An arborist should be involved in developing a plan for the project.

It could be possible to work with organizations such as the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Association and Bucks County Community College and forestry classes. There have been other organizations that have maintained trails as well.

What is needed is a commitment from the township to do what is necessary to find the resources to begin the process.

UPDATE (2 July 2021):

From the July 2, 2021, Newtown Parks & Recreation Report:
"[The Newtown Township Parks & Recreation Department] submitted an application for the Healing the Planet Grant through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The department applied for the full $25k outlining improvements to the trails and cleaning up the diseased trees at Clark Nature Center, as well as rejuvenating the Community Garden and signage. Announcements for grant awards will be made in August.''
The "Healing the Planet Grant Program" grant opportunity from Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society (PRPS) is funded by the Giant Food company and aims to build connections between community green spaces and families. There is no matching funds requirement.
In a previous report, the department said it would focus on dead tree cut down and trail mobility at Clark Nature Center.