North Wales Borough Officials Thank Volunteers for Parks Cleanup

Dan Sokil | The Reporter•

Residents took part in a cleanup of Walnut Square Park in North Wales on Saturday, Nov. 18m 2023.

Borough officials had something to be thankful for in November — a local company and several residents who recently helped clean up a local park.

"A huge ‘Thanks’ to everybody who participated in the cleanup for Walnut Square Park. It was very chilly that morning, and I think we pulled up an English estate’s worth of ivy. There was just soooo much ivy,” said Mayor Neil McDevitt.

"But I’m sure the park is going to look spectacular in the spring,” he said.

In September the borough announced plans for the cleanup of the park at Walnut Square, a park located just off of Walnut Street between Second and Third Streets, and across from the Tex Mex Connection restaurant, where the town maintains a message sign and landscaping features, and took down a deteriorated wooden archway in 2021 that had been donated by what is now the North Montco Technical Career Center in the early 1990s. That cleanup was organized by the borough’s parks and recreation board, whose members joined the mayor and volunteers in the cleanup event on Nov. 18.

McDevitt and several council members voiced their thanks this week to those who helped out on that day, including councilwoman Brittany Kohler, who said she brought a new recruit.

"I was fortunate enough to go with my wife, and those who know my wife know she doesn’t normally do that stuff. It was a really great experience — and I think the youngest resident that was helping might’ve been two years old. Lots of ivy, lots and lots of ivy that day,” she said.

That cleanup did require a vote from the council — borough Manager Christine Hart requested a motion accepting an in-kind donation of $4,200 from Straub Tree Experts, a local firm that wanted to help with tree removal and trimming there.

"One was a pear tree that had actually split and was causing some overgrowth on the corner of Second and Walnut. And the other was an invasive tree that had grown out of control,” said Hart.

"His bill would have been $4,200, and he did trim all of the trees between Second and Third, in the back parking lot, and did the removal of the two (trees),” the manager said.

Council voted unanimously to accept the in-kind donation, and council President Sal Amato said the group "extends our appreciation to Mr. Staub.” Councilwoman Wendy McClure said she thought the park "looks great,” and asked if any flowers had been removed or preserved for planting later; Hart said all perennials in the park were left, and only weeds and invasive ivy were removed.

"Mr. Straub said that he has grown up in this area, and he just wants to give back, and he thought that because that (park) is right in the downtown, that would be a good way,” she said.

Councilman Mark Tarlecki asked how the town’s volunteer parks committee played a role in the cleanup, and Hart said that group had done similar cleanup efforts in the borough’s Hess Park in prior years, but shifted to Walnut Square prior to the donation from Straub due to line-of-sight and overgrowth concerns.

"And we have plans for the spring,” Hart said.

Before the spring arrives, the manager and mayor announced several other community events coming sooner, starting with the town’s annual tree lighting, craft, cocoa and Santa night, starting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3. Organized by the North Wales Community Project Alliance and hosted by the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company at their Main Street firehouse, the night will feature reading of holiday stories, caroling, and the ceremonial lighting of the town’s tree.

Several holiday events are also scheduled at the North Wales Area Library, located at 233 Swartley Street. On Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. the library will host a family bingo night fundraiser, followed by a movie night showing of "The Grinch” at 5 p.m. on Dec. 13. The library will then host a visit by Santa from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15, with holiday stories, hot chocolate, holiday crafts, and a chance for photos with the special guest.

Ongoing through Dec. 13 will be the borough’s "Soldiers Christmas Collection” that gathers and ships needed items for soldiers on duty overseas. Items can be dropped off at borough hall, 300 School Street, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and items in need include flip flops of all sizes, white socks for all genders, personal care items such as soap, wipes, deodorant, shampoo or sanitizer; or items that spread holiday cheer like decorations, wrapped non-chocolate candies, and more; a full list has been posted on the borough’s Facebook page.

And for those whose resolution for 2024 is to get more involved, several vacancies remain on various borough boards and commissions, with one new one as of mid-November. On Nov. 14 council accepted the resignation of resident Amanda Combs from the zoning hearing board, and a resident is needed to fill that vacancy for a term running through 2027. Other vacancies include three spots on the town’s human relations commission, running through 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively; one each on the Historical Architectural Review Board (must be a licensed real estate broker) and on the Nor-Gwyn Pool Commission running through 2023, and one on the Civil Service Commission through 2025.

Anyone interested in serving in any of those positions can contact Hart with a letter of interest and resume by emailing [email protected] or at 300 School Street, North Wales PA, 19454. The manager added this week that she and staff are contacting other volunteers whose terms expire at the end of 2023 to see if they’re interested in reappointments, and will report back at future council meetings.

North Wales council next meets at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street; for more information visit www.northwalesborough.org.

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