Delco's New Park
New! the "name our park" contest: submit your idea today!
We're excited to launch our "Name Our Park" contest that invites Delaware County residents to share their creativity and submit their best suggestion for the official name of the new 213-acre park being planned for the former Don Guanella School site in Marple Township.
The contest — running now through Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. — aims to find a fitting and inspiring name for our new park that embodies the theme of "Community, in Nature." It offers Delaware County residents with a unique opportunity to have a lasting influence on the park's identity for generations to come, by providing a name that will resonate with the spirit of our community and foster a sense of belonging.
In addition to the satisfaction of providing the park's official name for decades to come, the individual who submits the winning name will also receive $250 and be honored at a future unveiling showcasing the name on the official park signage!
To kickstart the Name Our Park contest, the County has created a captivating video featuring Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, offering residents a virtual glimpse of the park's vast unspoiled expanse and its incredible potential.
Residents can watch the Name Our Park contest video at DelcoPA.gov/NameOurPark.
For complete Name Our Park contest rules, click here.
An Overview of the New Park
Delaware County has embarked on an ambitious plan to create a new state-of-the-art County park on the former Don Guanella School site, adjacent to Cardinal O’Hara High School in Marple Township.
The site of the future park consists of 213 acres that is home to woodlands (Delco’s largest undeveloped forest!), wetlands, meadows, and creeks, and is home to many wildlife and bird species.
Preservation of the undeveloped natural lands (nearly 175 acres) remains the signature priority of the County, while plans for exciting community-inspired recreational facilities and features continue to take shape as the Master Plan for the as-yet named new park nears completion.
The New Park Master Plan
The County — with significant input from the community — is working to complete its Park Master Plan in late 2023.
Over the past year, the experienced award-winning team of Toole Recreation Planning, JMT (Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson), Natural Lands, and Urban Partners has collaborated closely with County Department managers and staff, landscape architects, engineers, environmental scientists, community, parks, and recreation planners, and many other experts from a variety of disciplines to craft a plan that will serve the needs of the community and respect our need for undeveloped open green space.
Details about the plan are available on the New Park Master Plan website.
Visit the New Park Master Plan Website
The New Park Survey #2
After months of surveys, town halls, open houses, and community pop up events, the County is now seeking input for a second Park Survey. This second survey will help ensure that all communities have had an opportunity to voice their preferences, and to ensure that the park is the best reflection of what our park should be.
All residents, including those that took the previous survey regarding the new park, are asked to participate.
To take the second survey, click the link below.
