Quack-tastic: Daniel Roth Park in Harleysville Getting Tree Removal, More Parking, More Trout

Daniel Roth Park on Maple Avenue in the Harleysville portion of Lower Salford Township is getting some "tree-moval” therapy that will leave the Frederic "Ted" Dannerth Community Bike Path smoother than a duck’s glide on the park's pond.

According to an e-news release from the township, the park, located behind the soon-to-be-under-new-ownership Harleysville Hotel, is getting upgrades to provide a safer and cleaner environment for all visitors – even the feathered kind.

The township public works department, per the township, will be removing two sweet gum trees near the pond that have damaged the path over the years.

At present, the park features an 8-foot-wide macadam bike path that runs along portions of the township green belt area, which connects to a 7-mile trail system.

The trees have also started to damage the pond, as branches have fallen and rotted into and around it. Soon, feathered friends will rejoice as their aquatic abode sheds its leafy shackles, leaving them free to paddle without fear of a wayward branch ruining their day.

For the human visitors, the park will get playground upgrades, per the township.

"The area will be graded to a more level surface making for a safer play area for little ones, and the fence is being replaced around the play structure as well,” said the township in a press release.

Per the township, years of residents backing into the adjacent parking spaces have damaged the fencing. The new fence will be located further back and replaced, according to the township.

Finally, since the park is one of Lower Salford’s busier parks, according to the township, more parking spaces will be added to make a safer space for visitors.

The improvements will not affect trout fishing this year, the township said. Trout stocking dates are March 28 and April 11.

Two other ponds in the township – Briarwyck Pond and Alderfer Road Pond – will also be stocked those dates.

Regional opening day for fishing is April 6. A valid Pennsylvania fishing license is requiredto fish in township ponds.

All in all, there are 13 parks to enjoy in Lower Salford.

The Dan Roth Park Pond, according to the township’s website, was formerly known as the fire pond. In 1964, Lower Salford embarked on a open space preservation mission and purchased the man-made fire pond on Alumni Avenue, according to the township.

The purchase of Jacob Reiff Farmstead would follow in 1966. But, it would not be until the 1970s when the federal, state, and county-sponsored Open Space/Green Belt Program went into effect, causing the township to adopt it into its park system logistics.