Churchville to Playwicki Greenway: Frequently Asked Questions

L O C A T I O N

• Lower Southampton, Middletown and Northampton Townships, Bucks County, PA

F R E Q U E N T L Y   A S K E D    Q U E S T I O N S

What is a greenway?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, greenways are "corridors of open space that vary greatly in scale, from narrow ribbons of green that run through urban, suburban, and rural areas to wider corridors that incorporate diverse natural, cultural and scenic resources. They can incorporate both public and private property, and can be land or water-based. Greenways differ in their location and function, but overall, a greenway will protect natural, cultural, and scenic resources, provide recreational benefits, enhance the natural beauty and quality of life in neighborhoods and communities, and stimulate economic development opportunities."

What does a greenway look like?
Greenways are comprised of two main components. Hubs are large open space areas that act as anchors for a variety of natural processes and provide an origin or destination for wildlife. Examples of hubs include parks, woods or forests, wetlands, playgrounds, farms, yards, lakes and fields. Links are narrow bands of open space that connect the hubs, facilitate the flow of natural processes, and allow for the movement of wildlife. Examples of links include streams, windbreaks, street trees and other narrow bands of vegetation.

Where is the Churchville to Playwicki Greenway?
The Churchville to Playwicki Greenway follows along the Ironworks and Mill Creeks from the Churchville Nature Center to Playwicki Park and then along the Neshaminy Creek to the Neshaminy High School. The greenway spans three municipalities: Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township and Northampton Township.

What major hubs and links are connected by the Churchville to Playwicki Greenway?
There are a number of large open spaces or hubs that are linked by the Ironworks, Mill and Neshaminy Creeks including:

• Park land owned by Bucks County such as the Churchville Nature Center, Playwicki Park and Churchville Farm
• Churchville Reservoir owned by Aqua Pennsylvania
• Township-owned parks and open space areas such as Playwicki Farm Park, Periwinkle Park and Pheasant Run Park
• Idlewood Environmental Center owned by the Neshaminy School District, consisting of a large wooded area along the Neshaminy Creek
• Property along Mill Creek preserved by Heritage Conservancy

Project Orientation Map [485K PDF]

Is the greenway already there or do we have to create it?
The greenway already exists, although few people realize it. There is a significant amount of interconnected vegetation that surrounds the Ironworks, Mill and Neshaminy Creeks and the Churchville Reservoir, even though it is difficult to see just by walking or driving through the area. The best way to visualize the greenway is to look at the area from above by means of a map. Using information from the U.S. Geological Survey, Heritage Conservancy prepared a map showing the extent of tree cover in the area. The map shows how this vegetation is interconnected along the water features in the area.

2000 USGS Land Cover Map [954KB PDF]

What are the benefits of the Churchville to Playwicki Greenway?
The greenway offers several important benefits to the surrounding communities:

Wildlife Benefits: Scientific research has revealed that a greater variety of plants and animals are found in greenways and that these populations are more likely to survive. Local wildlife studies show that more than 90 species of birds utilize the Churchville Nature Center alone and that the greenway supports several unique species that are not found in other areas of Bucks County. The wooded, aquatic and wetland features of the greenway provide the habitat these plants and animals need to thrive.

Environmental Education Benefits: The proximity of the Holland Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Holland Middle and Neshaminy High Schools to the greenway provides an opportunity for children to learn about nature through hands-on activities in the out-of-doors at the many open spaces within the greenway.

Passive Leisure Activities: A number of passive leisure activities are compatible with the greenway such as birdwatching, scouting programs, nature photography, etc. These activities can enhance social interaction in the neighborhood and support residents interested in improving their physical fitness and knowledge of the environment.

What impact does a greenway have on private property rights?
Greenways provide an opportunity for both private and public property owners to voluntarily work together with their neighbors to maintain and enhance the interconnected land and water features in the area. Private landowners continue to have the same rights and privileges to use their property as they see fit and can make land use decisions based upon their understanding of their property's relationship to the greenway.

What efforts are currently underway to maintain the greenway?
Heritage Conservancy has received Growing Greener grant funding from the Community Conservation Partnership Program sponsored by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Recreation and Conservation to develop a plan for improving and enhancing the Churchville to Playwicki Greenway. To date, the Conservancy has assembled a study committee of representatives from various public agencies in the area to identify the natural, cultural and scenic resources of the greenway and to determine ways in which these agencies can work with each other and neighboring landowners to maintain the greenway. Postcards were recently mailed to neighboring landowners to invite them to meet with study committee members in early June 2007 to discuss the greenway. The study committee will be using the feedback from these meetings to develop recommendations for working with a variety of public and private partners to maintain the greenway. The results of this effort will be compiled into a report and presented at future meetings with the public to be held in the fall of 2007.

What can I do to support the greenway?
Heritage Conservancy and the study committee members are interested in hearing from you. If you would like to provide input on this project, please click on the link below to complete a brief survey and request to be notified of future public meetings about the greenway.

Take the survey

Need more information?
Please contact Karen Williamson at Heritage Conservancy at 215-345-7020 Ext. 115 if you have any other questions or need additional information.