The Willistown Serpentine Preserve is nextdoor to Natural Lands' Willisbrook Preserve…read more I was introduced to Shagbark Hickory and Willow Oak at this preserve and went straight home to order some of these trees for my home! The trees here are happy and thriving, and the variety is incredible. There was a maple with purplish-green leaves (like a Cherokee tomato skin) that was probably a standard maple but man how cool is that mutation! Lots of blooming rhododendron this time of year, those too are thriving in the shaded underbrush. A Japanese Maple grove was beautifully surreal with soft light green grass growing under the canopy. Someone has to be maintaining this with painstaking work! There were few vines, weeds, or invasive junk trying to crowd this forest. So many beautiful sights, very quiet and peaceful. I saw a Cardinal but not much birdsong, though it was close to dusk. There are some picnic tables, a port-a-potty, and a nice open field. Grass is mowed. Parking is a gravel lot.

Friendly people, dogs roaming, no aggression. Wonderful trail. Beautiful way to get a walk for both…read moreof you.

Nice dog park with trails and access to the creek. Both leashed and unleashed dogs, everyone (human…read moreand dog) very friendly. 5 year old had a blast. BTW appreciated the sign posted about the active wasp nest on trail.

The Willisbrook Preserve is a large serpentine barren in the middle of Malvern housing…read moredevelopments. From what I've read about serpentine barrens, there is bedrock close to the ground's surface, with only a shallow layer of soil on top. This prevents growth of deep rooted vegetation, and typically causes some desert-like conditions. There was also information about Native Americans setting controlled burns of expanses of land in the Mid-Atlantic region, to create hunting grounds, and this too, helped caused the desert-like serpentine barren conditions. I am not an expert, so that's my summary from my tired mom brain, of what I read a couple years ago. But the gist was interesting to me, and I made a trip down to some serpentine barrens in the very south portion of PA to see them. It wasn't what I expected, and little did I know that this barren was minutes from my home! I was able to identify the geology and vegetation described in my research a lot better at Willisbrook, than I could at the other preserve. While not all of this preserve is representative of "PA desert," it was really neat to find the parts that are. I have one photo that gives a close up of the ground, where you can hopefully see what I mean. Ironically, much of the terrain held standing water (opposite of desert), and there was a significant amount of mud on the trails. It was miserable trying to walk it with a small child, and for those who don't want muddy dogs in their car, either don't bring them, or bring towels! All in all, this is a really neat place, but not fun if it's recently rained. Also, there were dogs off leash, which was super annoying, and their families were less than accountable for breaking Natural Lands rules. As I've mentioned in other NL reviews, I know this is a concern they are addressing, and it's not NL's fault. But it's annoying to those of us who love visiting, and DO follow rules. As with all NL preserves, this place is pristine clean, no litter anywhere, and free!

Beautiful location for a hike and all of the preserves in the area are absolutely gorgeous but I…read morereally like this one because the paths are always pretty clear.

Wynnewood Valley Park is experiencing something of a Renaissance, lately, something I am very happy…read moreto see. The park itself is long and rather narrow, following along a valley created by a creek. The creek itself is a source of great entertainment for children and adults too - bring your water shoes! In the past few years via much cooperation with the park and other groups we have a revived the "sensory garden' for people with different sensory issues - from sound to smell to taste to touch. It's really lovely for all visitors and highly accessible too. The park also has recently added a 9 hole disc golf course that is both challenging and fun. There is a playground area and a grassy area where in recent years summer music events have been staged. It's a lovely park with so much to offer!

Lovely little park with two playgrounds, tennis courts and sensory garden.read more

This is my 1600th review (not including updates) in eighteen years, and it has taken me this long…read moreto drop a review for the playground where I've spent most of my days! This review might be a bit of a biased five stars, but it's impossible to rate any lower when it's the playground where I've spent most of my days, and the place that helped me find my love for park life (https://youtu.be/YSuHrTfcikU?si=PrZeWmpeKdccrNoj)! Narberth Park is the first park where I ever swung on a swing and the first park where I got kicked out of for night swinging as a young adult. It's the first place where I developed my love for baseball and hit my first of many RBIs on a field! Narberth Park is the first place I ever experienced fireworks, and my friend's high school metal band was denied a performance during a firework during the '90s despite winning a Battle of the Bands in its gazebo. But since that one oversight, The Narberth Fireworks has evolved into one of the best places to see a neighborhood firework display since it has featured food from the likes of Federal Donuts and Chickie & Pete's and music from the likes of Snacktime and Funkitorium. From sharing many good times with my cousins during summer sports camp to randomly introducing our rescue dog to a camel during one of their outdoor circuses, Narberth Park is a place of many good memories for me. And so long as it's still going strong, I'm destined to enjoy many more!. So even though it took 1600 reviews, I'm happy to include it as part of my Park Life collection on here.

Favorite place to take my bayyybayyy to get her good and exhausted for a nap...... so I can…read morenap..... lol.... The area for the little kids is sand covered and fully fenced in with just one small gate. Helps with protection from boo boos AND predators..... pop pop getting all his duties out the way today because come tomorrow at 1pm, I'll be back in Delaware in seclusion until after my Eagles are done winning their first game! Fly, Eagles Fly

This is a lovely, shaded park I recently discovered with quaint boardwalks and wooded bridges that…read morecross over lush vegetation. There is a nice creek where my dog enjoyed stopping for a drink along the way. The path is well-maintained and peaceful. I walked the entire loop at a brisk pace in less than 9 minutes, making it a great spot for a quick walk in nature.

This is a pretty crappy little park, wedged between Rte 202 and Conestoga Road. It consists of a…read moresingle trail that starts and ends at the parking lot, winding through mostly wooded areas, but also over a fire swampy place. See the pictures for details. There is constant and pretty loud traffic noise from Rte 202, which is a highway in this area. The enclosed nature of this place means you won't see any of the deer that are across 202 near the abandoned Aegon office building (another review, another day) or any other significant wildlife. This place just seems like an afterthought, something to do with some undeveloped land, a place to eat your lunch or make out in your car with that certain special co-worker. What prevents a one-star rating? The trail does have inclines, so you can get a decent walk. You can do the whole circuit in less than 10 minutes at a brisk pace. That, and somebody made the effort to label some of the trees. Also, it's so close to my workplace that it's hard to ignore. There's a decent stream that winds its way around which is nicely distracting. Still, with the traffic noise, you can't really feel close to nature. Oh, btw, no bike riding allowed, or golf, pets, alcohol, and be gone by dusk. So if your hamster wanted to bike to the fireswamp area to practice his night putting with a sixpack of Bud Ice, consider finding a Plan B.

This small cemetery has several notable Philadelphians burial plots. Most notably Benjamin…read moreFranklin! The cemetery has a park like atmosphere with lots of trees, grass and flowers in the nicer weather. There are also benches. It is interesting to wander through a read the gravestones. A kiosk is at the entrance with information. There is a small admission fee.

Though its not very big its worth taking time to walk through. There is a nice small path that…read moretakes you around and there are other interesting folks buried in the area including Benjamin Franklin. They also have water for sale in case its hot that day.

Five stars for being an excellent community park. Once called Black Oak Park over one hundred years…read moreago, it was renamed to honor the Civil Rights leader. The park is six acres with several playgrounds, places to sit, and lots of shade. However, the real magic is in the community events they host from Jazz to Juneteenth celebrations to the Black Farmers Market two Saturdays a month.

Chileeee... they need to trim those trees after last weekend's windstorm. The Lemon Drop Festival…read moreturned into the Tree Drop Festival.