A stream can be seen running through Ninth Street Park in North Wales on a rainy Tuesday, May 14 2024. Photo by Dan Sokil | The Reporter.
Trees could be removed in spring 2026, says manager
A North Wales park that saw a major upgrade done last summer, could see more work in 2026.
Borough council voted this week to advance a key step for streambank restoration at Ninth Street Park, a project park users could see take shape next spring.
“There will be some trees removed. There will be invasive species removed. Don’t panic: we’re going to replant,” said borough Manager Christine Hart.
Work at Ninth Street Park has been planned as far back as 2022, as the town used state funding to pave a gravel path running through the 2.2-acre park just east of Church Street, which currently features a gazebo, boardwalk and driveway running through a grassy area covered with trees, and a small stream running east-west through the park and behind the neighboring homes.
In late July 2024 council awarded a $102,000 contract to pave the path, which was done last fall; this July, the manager previewed the next step, a plan to remove roughly 20 trees and re-contour the stream to improve water retention and reduce flooding there.
On Oct. 28 Hart gave an update: since the latest grant application, the borough’s engineering firm has developed bid specifications for the streambank restoration project, which will be posted online for interested firms to vet and submit bids. The engineer and staff would then schedule pre-bid meetings as necessary, before vetting the bid packages submitted and recommending a contract be awarded, the manager said, thus a council vote needed to start that sequence.
“We have to have council approve the bid process,” she said.
The streambank work will take place entirely on borough property, along the creek that runs from the corner of Tenth and Church Streets toward Ninth Street, along the walkway and observation deck, will help the town meet mandated stormwater reduction requirements, and must be done by June to meet grant requirements, the manager said. Bid documents posted online by the borough indicate the deadline for bids to be submitted will be Jan. 14 of 2026, a contract would be awarded within 60 days, and a pre-bid meeting and site visit could be held in December.
“We’ll anticipate a bid opening in January, we’ll award bids in January, they’ll be able to start in February or March, and then hope to see completion by the end of June, and hope to have that sustainability period in summer, to see those plantings take off,” Hart said.
“We’re going to hear ‘Oh my goodness, why is the borough ripping out all of these beautiful trees and/or plants?’ They’re actually causing faster erosion of the streambank, and doing more harm than good,” she said.
Council President Mark Tarlecki added that the “did a fantastic job” on the streambank project will also help the wildlife that lives in and around that park, particularly the four-legged variety.
“If you’ve ever been up there, there’s a whole herd of five or six deer that live there, and the bucks — it’s fun to watch,” he said.
North Wales borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the borough municipal building, 300 School Street; for more information visit www.NorthWalesBorough.org.
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