Department of Parks and Recreation

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General Info.

NAWC Updates

Update #1 - 01/01
Update #2 - 01/02
Update #3 - 05/02
Update #4 - 09/02
Update #5 - 01/03
Update #6 - 05/03
Update #7 - 09/03
Update #8 - 01/04
Update #9 - 05/04
Update #10 - 09/04
Update #11 - 01/05
Update #12 - 09/07
Update #13 - 01/07
Update #14 - 05/08
Update #15 - 09/08
Update #16 - 01/09
Update #17 - 05/09
Update #18 - 09/09
Update #19 - 01/10

 

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Park Information

• IN ALL THE PARKS
• Parks are open from 7:00 AM to dusk.  After dusk, you must have a permit or risk being fined.  The walking trails at WCP, Kemper & Munro Parks will be available to residents from dawn to dusk.
• All Park buildings will be winterized (restrooms closed, water/electric turned off) by December 1 to reduce the chance of frozen pipes.  Portapotties will be removed from Kemper and Munro in late December, but will remain on site at WCP. 
• To reduce vandalism, park facilities are locked unless park staff or sport organizations are utilizing a park. 
• Spring sport organizations should submit field permits by February 1, 2010. Sport fields in all parks are available by permit only.  Persons who wish to use pavilions & fields should apply for permits.  Permit holders have priority.  
• Please do not feed the wildlife, especially the geese, in the parks - Supplemental feeding encourages wildlife to become dependent on handouts that are not part of their natural diets.
• Solicitation by vendors is not permitted in any park.  Citations will be issued by the Police Department.
• Motorized vehicles, including ATVs - are not permitted in Township parks.
• Parks & Recreation would like to extend our thanks to the many sport groups, individuals and volunteers who assist with park maintenance.   If you have questions about the various projects underway, please call us. 

Tree Information

Tree Installation
In November, the Township planted another 50 bare root trees as part of the Penna. Horticultural Society & Tree Vitalize programs. These trees were purchased at a deep discount ($25/tree) and installed throughout WCP. Then, with the help of the Bucks County IU WOW (We’re Outstanding Workers) program, all of the trees were mulched. We anticipate another planting in spring of 2010. Persons interested in volunteering can contact the Parks Department @ 215-443-5428.

Tree Vitalize: Tree Tender Classes
As part of TreeVitalize, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), in partnership with Penn State Cooperative Extension, will offer nine hours of FREE hands-on tree care training for residents of the five-county Philadelphia region. For info, visit the website: www.treevitalize.net.

Memorial Trees
Spring is the perfect time for planting flowering trees. Join the more than 40 families who have planted a living memorial gift of a tree or shrub in the park system. These trees commemorate a special occasion or honor the memory of a lost relative, pet or fallen soldier. Often they are placed in a park where relatives and friends can visit and meditate under the branches. If you enjoy a particular park and wish to place a lasting memorial to a family member, friend or pet, either living or deceased, consider donating a tree to the community. If you wish to make a tree donation, simply download the form from the township website or call the office and speak with Karen. Several options are available. Memorial trees are installed early March through April 15.

How Much Rain can a Tree Retain?
- One mature tree reduces storm water runoff by over 1,000 gallons/year!
- Trees manage storm water runoff.  They help reduce pollution and make waterways healthy for people and fish.
- Trees are the “new” technology to retain water on site, to slow the flow to our waters.
- Trees in your yard and community protect water and soil resources.  Trees reduce the amount of runoff and pollutants in creeks, ponds and other receiving waters in three primary ways:

Surfaces of leaves, branches and trunks intercept and store rainfall, thereby reducing the amount of runoff, soil erosion and delaying the onset of peak flows;

Root growth and decomposition of organic matter increase the capacity and rate of infiltration of rainfall into the soil and reduce surface flow;

The tree’s system recycles rainfall back into the atmosphere as evaporation.

Incorporate Trees into Storm Water Management on Your Property

- Increase the tree canopy on your property by planting large trees with full crowns and broad leaves, such as maple, oak and beech

- Plant needle-leaf and broad leaf evergreens on the north side for wind shields and for winter rainfall interception; avoid planting evergreens in front of south-facing windows to maximize winter solar heat gain.

- Encourage your community to plant more trees in appropriate areas such as park ways, boulevards, parking lots, traffic islands, swales, median strips and rain gardens, this will aid the retention/detention and infiltration/filtration processes.

- With new tree planting extend a thin layer of organic mulch to the drip line to improve your tree’s ability to absorb rainfall.

Source:  Center for Urban Forest Research, US Forest Service Dept of Agriculture.  

VANDALISM – It Hurts Everyone

This past summer we saw an increase in amount of vandalism in the parks, costing everyone money! Instead of spending tax dollars to improve the parks, we’re constantly trying to stay ahead of the repair & replacement costs which have resulted from break-ins, arson and general building & equipment vandalism! An Anti-Vandalism Ordinance is in place. There is a reward if your information leads to an arrest and conviction. If you see vandalism, dumping or other hazards, DON’T WAIT!! Please call the Police Department immediately at (215) 672-1000 or 9-1-1.

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Birders Can Enjoy The Parks Year Round

Winter is a great time to look for birds, especially when it snows. Snowfall (and leaf drop) makes it easier to see birds, and it is often more quiet and easier to hear the birds. Bird feeders with sunflower seed and suet attract many birds in winter. When you hear that snow is on the way, fill up your feeders, find a warm, comfortable place to watch them, and settle in for some fun. Even the common birds like American Robins, Blue Jays, and Northern Cardinals look beautiful against a background of snow.

As long as our lakes and ponds remain unfrozen, you can find various ducks and geese in the wintertime. Various species of ducks pass through Warminster in December and again in March, and some stay through the winter. Winter Wren, Golden-Crowned and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Brown Creepers and maybe even a Red-Breasted Nuthatch or Hermit Thrush can be spotted in the woods at Kemper Park in winter. White-Throated Sparrows and Dark-Eyed Juncos are only around feeders in the colder months. Horned Larks, American Pipits, and Snow Buntings can be spotted in the fields in and around Warminster Community Park, but only in winter.

April brings a rush of migrants, including the first warblers, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, swallows, and even shorebirds. Keep an eye out, and let us know what you see.

Please Don’t Feed The Waterfowl!
Parks and Recreation is working with the USDA Wildlife Service to protect the health of our park birds and wildlife. Please do not feed the waterfowl (geese, ducks, gulls, etc.). Feeding these wild animals creates dependence, promotes the spread of disease and upsets the natural cycles. The birds foul our shores, pollute our water and drive away timid species. Thank you for your cooperation.

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In The Parks