Newtown Creek Coalition Seeking Public Input

Call it using what you have.

For the Newtown Creek Coalition, that’s exactly the goal in the coming months and years. There is already a natural water resource in place, after all, with both pedestrian and vehicular bridges dotting it along the way.

But the focus is on enhancing the Newtown Creek into something even better, safer, and more enjoyable for the community. And in NCC members’ opinions, that is where the public comes in.

“We’d love to really work with what your recommendations are,” said Gonzalo Echeverria, who helped draft a plan for enhancing the creek and presented some of the NCC’s findings at a public meeting Saturday morning at the Chancellor Center.

There are many factors at play in what could be done with the creek. Perhaps the biggest is that much of its banks lie on private property, which means easements will be required to make something like an improved, longer creekwalk.

Then there’s the coming retail and residential Stocking Works II development project on a property from Centre Avenue to the former site of Stockburger Chevrolet. Included in that already is a creekwalk plan, but not one that will extend the length of Newtown.

Further, the creek flows through four municipalities: Wrightstown, where its headwaters are located; Middletown, where it drains into the Neshaminy Creek on the George School property; and both Newtown Borough and Township. So, coordination between them will be necessary.

For now, it’s more about learning what residents are looking for in terms of Newtown Creek. The Coalition has put together a survey for residents to complete, which is available on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GVAw0Hz4ss_2bofTjG5HMh3Q_3d_3d. It will also be on the NCC’s Web site this week at www.newtowncreekcoalition.org/.

Those in attendance Saturday also had the chance to mark which main focus goals of the project are most important. Seven creek zones have been designated by the NCC, with ideas about enhancing each as well as several general recommendations. The ideas getting the most support were both bridges and creekwalk connections for pedestrians, as well as protection measures.

There are currently vehicular bridges at Centre and Washington Avenues, as well as Jefferson Street. There is also one pedestrian bridge and connection sites at Frost Lane, Carl Sedia Park, and Greene Street. The idea is to improve the appearance and quality of the connecting points, as well as all bridges and the area around them.

The NCC would also like to rectify some of the creek’s banks and address some problems with stormwater management. The source of the creek lies in Wrightstown, where it is regulated by a dam blocking a lake which also lies in private properties but could be another area for potential public access in the future.

“It’s a beautiful creek, north of us,” said Jeff Marshall, the chief officer of the Heritage Conservancy in Doylestown who presented the Newtown Borough Rivers Conservation Plan. A Newtown resident, Marshall’s property backs up to the creek and lake.  

The NCC plans to coordinate with Stocking Works II developer Allan Smith when it comes to how the creek is protected and maintained. A big goal is to eliminate the proximity of current parking lots to the creek, which is expected to happen with Stocking Works II. It is also possible that businesses along the creek may add outdoor seating areas for the public.

Additionally, the acquisition of the Rockbridge open space makes 6.6 acres of riparian land available for preservation near the creek. Some at the meeting expressed interest in protecting native species and in creating a rain garden near stormwater areas.

“It’s all about creating a healthier community,” said lifelong Newtown resident and NCC member Pam Fitzpatrick. “Whatever it takes. It’s going to come from a lot of different areas.”

The study on how to utilize the creek was funded by a $12,100 grant from the state’s Department of Recreation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which was matched by a combination of the borough, township and NCC. From here, the NCC plans to gather results from previous and future meetings, as well as the survey, and put a draft together of its plan. A final draft will then be completed and sent to the state for approval, which would then put the creek on Pennsylvania’s river registry. That will be critical for winning grants to fund any projects done on the creek.

Another NCC meeting is scheduled for Saturday, but may be postponed until a later date as members gather public opinions.

“It’s really an economic development opportunity,” Marshall said.