Coming soon! Look for two new parks in Media!
5th and Broomall “Pocket Park”
Last year, with the assistance of a $175,000 Acquisitions grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Media Borough was able to purchase a .4 acre plot of land at the corner of 5th and Broomall Streets from a local family. The intent behind the purchase was to create a passive-use neighborhood park.
As a densely populated town, Media has little remaining open space and few parks to serve the recreation needs of its residents. The neighborhood around 5th and Broomall Streets is specifically cited by the 2015 Media Borough Comprehensive Plan as lacking in park facilities. The Plan specifies two goals, “To provide parks/civic space within ¼ mile of all neighborhoods,” and “provide a public open space in the underserved area located in the northwest section of the Borough.” It recommends that the Borough “Evaluate the possibility for a small pocket park” in this area. When this undeveloped lot came up for sale, Council recognized that it offered a rare opportunity to acquire land for such a park and prioritized its purchase.
Starting in November 2017, a group of twelve volunteer Media residents, led by Council members Peter Williamson and Amy Johnson, met monthly to share their ideas and vision for the park in addition to helping shape the design the park. Halfway through the series of six meetings, the Borough brought in Landscape Architect Tom Fein of NV5. Tom worked with the committee over three months pulling together their sketches and ideas to create a concept sketch for the park, which was presented in a public meeting at Borough Hall last April 2.
The Borough is already working on the next step: raising funds to implement the design. We have submitted one grant to the state so far and are planning several others.
The park at 5th and Broomall will be developed as a passive-use, walk-to, neighborhood park. It is sited in an area that is within a short walk of one-third of the residents of Media. Neighbors of all ages and abilities will have a beautiful green space in which they can meet each other, chat, relax and enjoy nature. Children will have open space in which they can run and play. The park will encourage exercise and support the health of the community by providing a destination for walkers, joggers and bicyclists.
The 5th and Broomall park design may be viewed by clicking here.
Manchester Park
Another new park is opening in Media this summer. Manchester Park, located on Manchester Street between Front and State Streets, was recently established from land given to the borough by Media Real Estate as part of the Wawa land development. The Media Rotary Club is donating $15,000 toward park furniture and plantings and has stepped up as a park sponsor. Media Rotary will help maintain the park with volunteer clean up and spruce up days. By the end of the summer the park will be outfitted with tables and benches and will make a lovely place to eat lunch, meet a friend or just enjoy the scenery.
