Cleanup Targets Site Of Proposed Pedestrian Bridge In Newtown
NEWTOWN, PA — A section of the Newtown Creek received some much-needed attention Saturday morning thanks to a group of hardworking volunteers.A spring cleanup, organized by the Newtown Creek Coalition, focused on a portion of the creek (behind Penn Community Bank) that flows in and around a series of stone abutments that once supported a trolley bridge over the creek.Veteran creek volunteers, including Councilwoman Julia Woldorf, creek coalition president Mike Sellers and the borough’s tree advocate, Ted Schmidt, were joined by former councilwoman Nicole Rodowicz, several Council Rock students and others in helping with the effort.Saturday's cleanup had an important purpose, said coalition president Mike Sellers."We removed at least six or seven good-sized trees - about 160 linear feet of trunk - that will not be picked up in a storm and be carried downstream and hit the old abutments," said Sellers. "You can see the damage they have already done," he said pointing to a chuck of stone missing from the base of one of the historic abutments.The volunteer crew. (Photo by Jeff Werner)This is also where the coalition, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving the creek, envisions the construction of a future pedestrian bridge across Newtown Creek linking Frost Lane in the borough with Sycamore Street in the township.The coalition submitted a nearly $1 million grant earlier this year to the state through the Commonwealth Financing Authority that would fund the entire project. Coalition members secured letters of support from the county, local politicians, neighboring municipalities, and regional trail advocacy groups in support of the application, according to Sellers.Sellers said he’s optimistic the coalition will be successful with its grant request, citing a broad range of support from not only the borough, but from the township, the coalition, the county, and state lawmakers, including Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Perry Warren.“We have a unique partnership, which throughout the Commonwealth is very unusual,” said Sellers. “We’re hoping that will enhance our prospects of securing the grant.”Also enhancing the project’s prospects is its location. According to Sellers, the bridge would provide a key link over the Newtown Creek for several trails and greenways now in the planning and construction phase in Bucks County.The grant would pay for the construction of an eight-foot wide pre-fabricated bridge across the creek. It would be built next to the original bridge abutments, which date to 1895. The plan also envisions the creation of a pocket park on the Newtown Township side of the creek, where bicyclists, joggers, and walkers can enjoy a pristine view of the creek.“It’s going to be very attractive,” said Sellers of the bridge and the park.The coalition expects to hear this summer whether its grant application has been successful.“With that grant, we’re talking about a bridge that could be up in the next couple of years,” said Sellers. “In the meantime, we want to clean it up, let people see what it is, and restore as much as possible.”Sellers extended his thanks to local developer Allan Smith for granting access to the property for a dumpster and the right of way to the old trolley bridge.He also thanked Leck Waste Disposal for providing the dumpster and D.C. Jefferson Landscaping, which helped with large branches and debris.And he thanked the volunteers who participated. “They exceeded all expectations,” said Sellers. “It’s great that people devoted a couple hours of their time on a Saturday morning to do this good work for the restoration of the creek and the bridge to come.”The stone abutments of the original trolley bridge. (Photo by Jeff Werner)The article Cleanup Targets Site Of Proposed Pedestrian Bridge In Newtown appeared first on Newtown, PA Patch.
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