WELCOME TO PARKS 2024!
Floating Wetlands Treatment Pod
Installed at Briarwyck Pond
In September 2024, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy installed a "Floating Wetland" in the center of Briarwyck Pond. You may already know that the Township has struggled to keep algae blooms to a minimum over the years. Algae blooms in this pond have always been hard to abate due to the constant flow of water into the pond from neighboring yards and stormwater bringing in nitrogen rich particles from lawn fertilizers. The Floating Wetland consists of native plants in 100 hexagon structures secured together to form a pod, which is kept afloat by 600 empty water bottles. What a way to reuse and recycle! The native plants absorb the nutrients in the water as they grow, which in turn, cleans the pond. The Watershed has one of these pods in the pond at Green Lane Park as well.
Many thanks to the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy for choosing the Briarwyck Pond for one of these pods!
ALDERFER PARK STORYWALK DEDICATION:
On April 26, 2023, friends of the Indian Valley Public Library gathered at Alderfer Park to dedicate the newly installed StoryWalk. On hand were Margie Stern of IVPL as well as other IVPL Board and Staff Members to help cut the ribbon. Lower Salford Supervisors Kevin Shelly and Kent Krauss were also in attendance to share their appreciation for the Library and the many wonderful services they provide for the Indian Valley.
JACOB REIFF HOMESTEAD PROJECT:
On Friday, December 2, 2022, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, along with members from the Lower Salford Historical Society, the Heckler Plains Society and the Township Supervisors, broke ground for The Dragonfly Farm at Jacob Reiff Homestead. This project will entail a new greenhouse to raise native plants and another similar building to study and raise native butterflies. The Township looks forward to the partnership with the Perkiomen Watershed and commends them on their efforts to continue their work as good stewards of the land. Below is a picture from the groundbreaking as well as the first of two greenhouses as it looked in April 2023.
The 2024 listing of Historical Society events will be updated in the near future!
Herb Festival at Heckler Plains Farmstead 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Plant Exchange - Jacob Reiff Homestead 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Ice Cream Social - July 21: Bergey Mill Farmstead 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
HecklerFest - August 24: Heckler Plains Farmstead 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Carol Night - Heckler Plains Farmstead 7:00 p.m.
**Please keep an eye on this page and the Township Calendar for updates!
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JACOB REIFF STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT**
In 2021-22, the Township partnered with the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy to restore/rebuild the streambank of the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek where it winds through the Jacob Reiff Farm off of Quarry Road. Over the last 2 years, the Perkiomen Watershed and its volunteers, have planted over 10,000 native trees in the area along with a raingarden to handle the storm water that may overflow the banks of the stream.
The rains from Hurricane Ian proved to be a real test for the restoration, and the video below is a testament to the success of everyone's efforts. Many, many thanks to the Conservancy for choosing this area as a project for the Grant Funds from the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund.
STREAM BANK RESTORATION
**In April 2023, this project was awarded the Governor's Award of Environmental Excellence from the Pennsylvania Supervisors and Township Officials. Congratulations to everyone involved!
FISH STOCKING
3 Area Ponds Stocked with Rainbow Trout
PONDS WILL BE STOCKED ON:
*March 28, 2024
*April 11, 2024
Opening Day in Pennsylvania is: April 6, 2024
Each year in March, the Township stocks the following three ponds with trout: Roth Park Pond, Briarwyck Park Pond and Alderfer Road Pond. Approximately 1000 trout are stocked over these three ponds. Please note: A valid Fishing License is required to fish the Township ponds.
Fish Stocking
CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR
FROM YEAR'S PAST:
The Heckler Plains Folklife Society and the Lower Salford Historical Society gave tours of three historic Lower Salford Parks' homes during the holidays. Click below to see these homes decorated in their Christmas finery, each depicting the century from which they came.
PHOTO GALLERY FROM PREVIOUS YEARS:
Bergey Mill Farmstead - 19th Century
Heckler Plains Farmstead - 18th Century
The Reiff Farmhouse - Transition home-both 18th & 19th Centuries
HECKLERFEST
This Annual event takes place in August of each year and showcases what life was like on the farm in the 1800s. Keep an eye out on this page or in the Township Newsletter or Email blasts for this year's date & time.
2024 Event to take place August 24th from 10-3!
(pictures from previous Hecklerfests are below)
European Water Chestnut
Local Waterway Invasion
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THIS
INVASIVE PLANT
W.S.Hancock Society
"War on the Doorstep:Aftermath of the Civil War's Bloodiest Day"
The. W.S. Hancock Society presented their "War on the Doorstep: Aftermath of the Civil War's Bloodiest Day" event under beautiful skies at The Jacob Reiff Homestead. The Society hopes to make this an annual event. This was presented in partnership with the Lower Salford Historical Society and Lower Salford Township. Keep an eye on this page for future event information.
HERB FEST PHOTO GALLERY
HECKLER PLAINS FARMSTEAD
 Joan DiMaria, President of the HPFS, tends to the herb garden - Click on photos to enlarge. |
 Gina Carl explains the wool process to an inquisitive visitor as Rachael Smith churns butter in the background. Both ladies are with the W.S. Hancock Society |
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 Rachael Smith spinning and carding wool at the 2013 Herb Festival at the Heckler Farmstead
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 Birdseye view of the Herb Festival from the window of the restored bedroom in the house. |
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 Crafters set-up in front of the 1761 Rhine-Valley Bottom barn at the Heckler farm.
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 Margie Gehlhaus is cooking a ham stew over the fire
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 Bruce Stocking, Historian and Educational Program Coordinator for the W.S. Hancock Society, sits by the wood stove
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 In this photo, Rick Gehlhaus, a tobacconist, is demonstrating how pipe tobacco and cigars were made. |
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 Bruce Stocking and Ray Steinmetz, from the W.S. Hancock Society chat with visitors in the Heckler House.
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 Herb Fest |
Walmart Employees Help
Beautify Roth Park
Walmart employees have been helping with painting and planting projects at the parks the last several years as part of their commitment to community involvement. They did a lot of work but had fun along the way. The Board of Supervisors and Park Board really appreciate their contribution and send a big thank you their way! (click on the photos to enlarge) If you would like to get involved in a community beatification project, please contact the Township Office at: 215-256-8087
EARTH DAY PROJECT IDEAS
Back in 2011, members of Save Jr. contacted the Township and asked how they could contribute to our community, specifically to beautifying the parklands. The Township responded and worked with the club and they focused on cleaning up the litter in the Township open space and in the creek along the trail between Yoder Road and Main Street. The Board of Supervisors and Park Board really appreciate it when community members get involved in beautifying our parks. Not only did Save Jr. do something nice for the earth, it looks like they had a really fun time! Thanks again for a job well done! (click on photos to enlarge)
Path Bridge Connection
Back in the Fall of 2009, members of the Public Works Department worked to connect two existing trails through Township Open Space. The trails connected were Cutleaf Circle and Belle Lane. Crew members installed the abutments in October and by November were ready to set the bridge in place.
At left is the crane lowering the bridge into place and below, crew members guide the bridge onto the abutments. Projects like this are always on the horizon to improve visitor experiences in the Township Parks.
PLANTING COMPLETED IN TOWNSHIP OPEN SPACE
The Township and the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy wants to thank the volunteers who came out on Saturday morning, October 11, 2008 to plant over 400 tress, shrubs, and plants at the corner of Kulp and Yoder Roads. Over 90 volunteers, including township residents, Boy Scout Pack 105 from Schwenksville and Pack 79 from Souderton, and students from Perkiomen Valley High School donated 231 volunteer hours.
The plantings will help to establish better wildlife habitat and improve the water quality along the West Branch of the Skippack Creek that meanders through the Township Open Space. The project was planted with TreeVitalize funds.
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