This Plan sets forth an ambitious agenda for the preservation and creation of open spaces, natural features, historic resources and recreational facilities. The goals and recommendations of this Plan are broad and diverse and are intended to address the immediate and long-term needs of the approximately 60,000 residents living within the 24 square miles of Lower Merion Township.

If this plan were summed up in a single word, that word would be linkages. This Plan proposes numerous different types of linkages between a multitude of different neighborhoods, parks, amenities, institutions, historic resources and municipalities. To successfully weave together the open space/recreational tapestry presented in this Plan, linkages will involve more than just physical connections; they will also require cooperation between different parties. These partnerships are crucial to the implementation of this Plan. Toward that end, this Plan identifies potential partners and common issues with the goal of creating effective relationships.

This section primarily identifies sources of funding necessary to implement this Plan. The primary funding source and impetus of this Plan is the funding available through the Montgomery County Open Space Program. While the Township has been allocated over $3 million dollars, it is strikingly apparent that the open space needs of Lower Merion far exceed that amount. Recognizing that reality, this section also identifies numerous other funding sources to realize the vision. It is anticipated that a large portion of the Township’s share of the County Open Space Funds will serve as ‘seed money’ to jump start critical parts of projects, which will take many years to realize.

One of the central strategies of this Plan is to make more of what we have and to make more with less. Consistent with that strategy, this Plan also identifies sources of technical assistance that can help with implementation.

For instance, a large portion of the proposed Schuylkill River Trail will run within the right-of-way of the Schuylkill Expressway. As outlined in the Pennsylvania Greenway Action Plan state departments and agencies are required to work with municipal and county entities in the creation of a statewide network of Greenways. PENNDOT, which administers the Schuylkill Expressway, has expressed a willingness to work with Lower Merion in securing necessary easements and assist in funding where possible. This is just one example of the ways that this Plan can be further implemented.

Of course, one of the most important sources of support will be the people of Lower Merion. The primary linkage of this Plan is to connect residents with the landscape and resources and in turn to connect with each other. Many of the projects proposed will result in increased public access and social interaction. Many of these projects will create new community spaces. Public involvement in the design, construction and long-term care of these spaces will be crucial to their success. Enhancing the public realm is the goal of creating new public spaces. The support and cooperation of the local media will be important in helping to communicate potential projects and help keep the public informed of issues and aware of opportunities to get involved.

PARTNERSHIPS

There are only a few ‘stand alone’ projects outlined in this Plan that can simply be undertaken by the Township. Many projects ‘color outside the lines’ and will require cooperation between multiple partners. Many potential partners have already been contacted during the preparation of this Plan to gauge potential interest, identify common issues and determine joint projects.

One of the more exciting results of this process was the identification of several potential multi-municipal projects. Multi-municipal projects allow municipalities to share resources and work together to solve extra-municipal or regional problems. Multi-municipal cooperation has been identified as one of the key opportunities toward creating a truly regional open space network. The following potential multi-municipal projects have been identified:

• Creation of a continuous multi-use trail parallel to the Schuylkill River between Lower Merion and Valley Forge. Municipal partners could include:
• Borough of West Conshohocken
• Borough of Bridgeport
• Township of Upper Merion
• The City of Philadelphia
• Extension of the multi-use river front trail east to the end of the end of recreation trail along West River Drive in Philadelphia. Municipal partners could include:
• City of Philadelphia through the Fairmount Park Commission
• Creation of a shared riverfront vision and strengthening of physical, economic and social connections between new developments along the Schuylkill River in both Lower Merion and Manayunk. Municipal partners could include:
• City of Philadelphia
• Manayunk Development Corporation
• Roxborough Development Corporation
• East Falls Development Corporation
• Implementation of streetscape enhancements and creation of public spaces along the City Avenue Corridor in the City Avenue Special Service District. Municipal partners could include:
• City of Philadelphia in conjunction with the City Avenue Special Service District
• Establishment of enhanced pedestrian and bicycle connections between Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough including, reopening the Rockland Avenue Bridge over the R-5 Amtrak Corridor, improving pedestrian crossings along Wynnewood Road and the preparation of a bicycle trail map showing routes and destinations in both communities. Municipal partners could include:
• Borough of Narberth
• Ecological restoration and creation of a multi-use trail along the Balligomingo Road corridor extending from Lower Merion into West Conshohocken. Municipal partners could include:
• Borough of West Conshohocken
• Upper Merion Township

Additional partners necessary to realize the Open Space Vision include:

• United States Army Core of Engineers
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• AMTRAK
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT)
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
• Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
• Montgomery County Planning Commission
• Montgomery County Open Space Board
• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
• Norfolk Southern
• Lower Merion Business and Financial Community
• Local Institutions and private land owners
• Local open space stakeholders and open space advocates including the Lower Merion Conservancy and Bridlewild Association
• Private Foundations
• Local Community Groups and Civic Associations

This is a temporarily protected open space in Merion. It is administered by the Riverbend Education Center.

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