Issuu

Bushkill Creek Greenway

Final Report March 30, 2026

Acknowledgments

Project Funding

Funding assistance for this project was generously provided by the Northampton County Livable Landscapes Grant Program, as well as by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Palmer Residents

As a community-driven master plan, this effort was anchored by the voices and ambitions of Palmer Township residents, who are a force for creativity and innovation. Members of the community contributed input and feedback throughout the planning process at public meetings, via two community surveys, through the project website and online Story Map platform, via email and social media, and during engagement pop-up events, activities, and conversations with the planning team. The input of Palmer Township residents is a critical foundation for every recommendation in this report.

Leadership

• Robert Williams, Township Manager

• Julie Klabunde, Assistant Township Manager

Board of Supervisors

• Michael Brett, Chairman

• Baron Vanderburg, Vice Chairman

• Joseph Armato, Board Member

• Marcella Cardone, Board Member

• Tung To Lam, Board Member

Steering Committee

• Karen Adams, Member, Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee

• Joseph Armato, Supervisor, Palmer Township Board of Supervisors

• Charles Bellis, Supervisor, Palmer Township Board of Supervisors

• David Demopoulos, Member, Palmer Township

Shade Tree Commission

• Matt Gunther, Member, Palmer Township Stormwater Authority

• Cheryl Nielsen, Palmer Township Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

• Richard Wilkins, Vice-Chair, Palmer Township Planning Commission

• Sherry Acevedo, Conservation Coordinator, Northampton County Parks and Recreation

• Kathy Altmann, President, Bushkill Stream Conservancy

• Brit Kondravy, Conservation Coordinator, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor

• John Marks, President, Earth Stewards of Palmer

• Christian Martinez, Environmental Planner, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

• Bruce McCutcheon, Member, Forks of the Delaware Chapter, Trout Unlimited

• Lorne Possinger, Regional Manager, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

• Scott Slingerland, Executive Director, Coalition for Appropriate Transportation

Township Planning Team

• Craig Beavers, Director of Planning, Palmer Township

• Steve Gallagher, Fire Commissioner, Palmer Municipal Fire Department

• Phil Godbout, Director of Public Services, Palmer Township

• Scott Kistler, Director of Public Works, Parks and Public Utilities, Palmer Township

• Dan McKinney, Director of Parks and Recreation, Palmer Township

• Wayne Smith, Police Chief, Palmer Township

• Zach Trexler, Deputy Director of Stormwater, Department of Stormwater and MS4

Key Person Interviews

• Kathy Altmann,* President, Bushkill Stream Conservancy

• Donna Asure, Township Manager, Forks Township

• Kent Baird,* Director of Community and Economic Development, Palmer Township

• Dave Brandes, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lafayette College

• Justin Coyle, Township Engineer, Carroll Engineering Corporation

• Dave Dumpel, President, Palmer Township Athletic Association

• Dru Germanoski, Professor, Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Lafayette College

• Scott Kistler*, Director of Public Works, Parks and Public Utilities, Palmer Township

• Dan McKinney,* Director of Parks and Recreation, Palmer Township

• Susan Myerov, Director of Environmental Planning, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

• Rob Neitz, Park Manager, Jacobsburg State Park & Environmental Education Center, PA DCNR

• Megan Rothenberger, Professor, Biology, Lafayette College

• Mark Saginario, Borough Manager, Tatamy Borough

• Wayne Smith,* Police Chief, Palmer Township

• Paige Strasko, Watershed Specialist, Northampton County Conservation District

• Josh Ziatyk, Assistant Superintendent, District Operations & Services, Easton Area School District

* Also a member of the Steering Committee

Planning Consultants

• Laura Stedenfeld, Principal, Omnes

• Sheila M. Fuentes, Director, Omnes

• Emily Hahn Van Wagoner, Senior Landscape Designer, Omnes

• Carson Fisk-Vittori, Landscape Designer, Omnes

• Sara Harmon, Landscape Designer, Omnes

• Sam Krumbhaar, Landscape Designer, Omnes

• Ed Confair, VP, Landscape and Resiliency, AKRF

• Megan Schmidt, Technical Director, AKRF

• Kristie Fach, Director of Ecological Restoration, Wildlands Conservancy

• Kate Ebel, Senior Restoration Ecologist, Wildlands Conservancy

• Maggie Witmer, Conservation Planner, Wildlands Conservancy

March 30, 2026

Executive Summary Chapter 1

The Bushkill Creek Greenway

The Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan unites various trails and public spaces as a cohesive greenway experience. A community-driven vision for a more sustainable future, this plan imagines the Creek as a place for people and nature. Introducing accessibility upgrades for parks and trails (some of which were built well before the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act) will bring a new era of inclusive public space to Palmer Township. The plan also embraces a community mandate for improvements to ecological and hydrological systems that can protect the Bushkill Creek from the expected impacts of climate change.

The Bikeway in Palmer Township is one of the first rail-to-trail success stories in America, utilizing post-industrial infrastructure through the lens of environmental movements begun in the mid-late 1970s. Completed in 1981, the trail now connects to 13 miles of trails just within Palmer Township. Building upon this success, the Bushkill Creek Greenway offers a vision for connecting the Bikeway and adjacent parks in a cohesive experience that is accessible to all. New signage, amenities, and infrastructural improvements will ensure that this beloved Creek and its surroundings are stewarded into the future.

With a grant-funded path for implementation making these improvements possible over the coming decade, recommendations for the short, mid- and long terms will bring incremental improvement. This vision can be understood as a guide for leading the Greenway through complicated environmental change, and stewarding a future of care for the intertwined relationship of people and nature.

The Bushkill Creek Greenway is primarily centered in Palmer Township, with important connections to Tatamy Borough, Forks Township, and the City of Easton. This master plan, along with a simultaneous Easton-Palmer-Forks Regional Multimodal Trail Plan by Lafayette College, will establish the Greenway as an ecological connector than spans multiple municipalities. Multi-jurisdictional imagination and cooperation will bring about connected, livable landscapes that serve all residents, locally and regionally.

Open Space &

Introduction GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Protect and Restore Ecology & Create Resilient Hydrology

As a vision that engages with the uncertainty of climate change impacts, this report outlines various strategies to plan for the protection of ecosystems and beloved experiences along the Bushkill. The plan introduces ecological typologies and strategies to ameliorate compacted soils, habitat loss, invasive or degraded tree canopy, erosion, and pollution through various strategies:

• Establish consistent floodplain buffers through invasive plant removal and planting native trees and perennials that improve hydrology and ecological habitat

• Improve water access and overlooks for people while conserving planted and aquatic areas for non-human habitat

• Improve inland floodplain conditions to foster native wetland plant communities and enhance drainage to the creek

• Improve recreational lawns with drainage for social and recreation use, and convert unused lawn to native understory planting, such as meadows

• Bring tree canopy to health through removal of invasive vines, non-native trees, and blighted specimens while also introducing climateadaptive species

• Remove historic low-head dams to improve ecological continuity for fish and invertebrates

• Create rain gardens and infiltration in upland conditions to improve water quality and enhance flood resiliency of the Bushkill

Support Connection

The plan considers the various ways that users and residents access the Greenway, and offers recommendations for improved access and multimodal circulation:

• Establish safe crossings, bump-outs, signage, and trail amenities at the interface of trails with roadways and/or public spaces

• Incorporate American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trail and park access standards within existing infrastructure, as well as establishing equitable access to recreation and sports amenities within parks

The Bushkill Creek traverses through Palmer Township beginning at Mill Race Park to the North, and the Wildlands Conservancy Binney and Smith Preserve to the south. Here the Creek is shown at the water access area along Penn Pump Park.

• Create elevated boardwalks with ADA access that will allow for recreational use during mud and flood seasons

Enhance Activity

Responding to the needs expressed by residents through collaborative community engagement, the plan introduces new ideas for programming, play, and park amenities to better meet the needs of all by:

• Emphasizing nature-based programming, education, and play to enhance the relationship with nature and humans

• Consolidating places for human use so that native habitat for flora and fauna can be preserved and protected

• Preserving the peaceful setting of the Bushkill for respite while also establishing spaces for community gathering, all at a scale that is appropriate to the Greenway

• Creating resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding increasing impacts from climate hazards that allows continued use of recreation

Communicate History

The setting of the Bushkill is beloved for its peaceful, shady banks, and has become a place of meaning and memory for many in the community. With important sites of American history and industry, such as the birthplace of Binney & Smith and one of the first rails-to-trails successes, the Greenway has many stories to tell. The Bushkill Creek Greenway will communicate history through:

• Historic and Interpretive signage that reminds users of the rich history of the site, reaching back to Lenape culture through industrial history; recommendations will also include consistent signage for trail direction and etiquette to help orient users

• Re-interpretation of historic elements such as Dam 6, into a usable fishing overlook that integrates historic signage and elements

• Integration of durable materials that fit within the historic setting of the trail while offering enhanced maintenance

The Schoeneck Creek is a tributary to the Bushkill Creek that runs along Penn’s Grant Pathway and Open Space.

Bushkill Creek Greenway WHICH

PARCELS ARE INCLUDED?

The Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan unites various trails and public spaces as a cohesive greenway experience within Palmer Township. The corridor includes beloved parks and the Palmer Township Bikeway (also part of the Two Rivers Trail and September 11th National Memorial Trail). The Greenway is also home to the historic birthplace of Binney & Smith’s Crayola Crayons and a number of historic industrial mills that contributed to the Industrial Revolution.

This plan builds off cohesive work for the entire Bushkill Creek Greenway (also known as the Two Rivers Greenway regionally) from the Two Rivers Area Greenway Plan adopted in January 2005. Further planning conducted in the Two Rivers Area Greenway Implementation Study was also adopted in February 2009.

The parks included in this study collectively total 114 acres of public open space. This has enormous social and ecological impact. Through adjacent trails, the impact of the Greenway’s parks are enhanced further by creating a connective experience that links to multiple municipalities.

Many of the parks exist within the National Wetland Inventory and within the floodplain, presenting unique challenges for use and future resiliency. As this report explores, a future with more extreme temperatures, storm events, increased runoff, and snow will influence the use and maintenance of public spaces. By planning for this change, the Township can take steps to protect the beauty and function of the Greenway as a whole.

Parks within the Bushkill Creek Greenway (with the exception of Mill Race Park) were constructed well before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, when accessibility requirements for public space became standardized. Incremental improvements have been made in the decades since, and this plan builds on those efforts with clear recommendations for systemic improvements for accessibility and connectivity that will help users to better access the parks and use the amenities within them, meeting goals of many initiatives within Palmer Township.

Parks in the Study:

• Mill Race Park & Tot Lot

• Penn’s Grant Path & Open Space at Schoeneck Creek

• Keystone Park

• Penn Pump Park and Dam 6

• Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve

• Hillcrest Open Space & Morningside Tot Lot

Potential Acquisition Sites:

• Parking at Penn’s Grant Path (Forks Township acquisition)

• Two Fool’s Island, south of Stocker Mill Road

• Condemned lot and stone building adjacent to Penn Pump Park

Dam Sites

• There are a number of dams within the study area, some of which have been removed in recent years:

• Dam 4 (Pigment Plant - to be removed in 2026)

• Dam 5 (Crayola Dam - removed in 2022)

• Dam 6 (Penn Pump Park)

• Dam 7 (Palmer Township & Stocker Mill Dam)

What is the Bushkill Creek Greenway?

Regional Context TRAIL NETWORKS

The total study area encompasses 5.1 miles of trails, which includes the Palmer Bikeway and Penn’s Grant Path, with the breakdown of each trail length highlighted in the chart at right. The current Palmer Township Bikeway is 13.3 miles in length, including Penn’s Grant Path. The portion of the Bikeway that is included in this study is 3 miles.

With connections to more than a dozen trails, the Bushkill Creek Greenway links to 2,117 miles of regional and national trails. The Greenway is considered part of Two Rivers Trailway, the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, as well as a link within the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail). The trail assumes branding and mile markers for these various trail systems within its length, a challenge that is addressed in this report’s “Signage and Wayfinding” chapter.

Trail Gaps

The trail gap noted to the north (G1) will be completed when Tatamy implements its latest trail plans.

Palmer Township recently received a $50,000 Northampton County Livable Landscapes Grant for Fox Run Trail improvements (G2) which will help to complete this gap westward to Fox Run Park.

The gap at the western end of Easton, PA (G3) will require coordination for on-road and private connections west of 13th Street, which coincide well with Easton’s recent planning of the Bushkill Corridor between 13th Street and Dietrich Road at the Easton Iron & Metalworks. That length of trail, when implemented, will tie to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail.

This should be coordinated with 2026 planning for trails in Easton-Forks-Palmer that is being completed by Lafayette College.

There is ongoing planning for downtown Easton’s trail connections that could link to the D&L trail (G4), one of which would be via a highline experience on a repurposed elevated rail bridge.

Existing Trails In This Study:

• Palmer Bikeway (13.3 miles, of which 3 are miles located within the study area)

• Penn’s Grant Path at Schoeneck Creek (0.7 miles)

• 9/11 National Memorial Trail (1,500 miles)

• Two Rivers Trailway (20 miles)

• The LINK Trail Network (125 miles)

Regional Trail Networks:

• Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center Trails (19.7 miles)

• Plainfield Township Recreation Trail (6.7 miles)

• Stockertown Rail Trail (1 mile)

• Tatamy Trail (0.25 miles)

• Forks Township Recreation Trail (2 miles)

• Louise W. Moore County Park Trails (5.41 miles)

• Karl Stirner Arts Trail (2.2 miles)

• D&L Trail (140 miles)

• Lehigh River Water Trail (75 miles)

• Delaware River Water Trail (200 miles)

• Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary Trails (4.2 miles)

• South Bethlehem Greenway (2.4 miles)

Regional Trail Network Gaps:

• Between Tatamy Trail & Stockertown Rail Trail

• Between Penn’s Grant Path at Schoeneck Creek & Trail at Fox Run Open Space

• Between Palmer Bikeway & Karl Stirner Arts Trail at 13th Street

• Between Karl Stirner Arts Trail & D&L Trail through the City of Easton

Purpose, Goals, and Objectives Chapter 2

Project Goals GOALS

History

The Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan centers on five primary goals that are met through the recommendations within this report. Where relevant, readers will notice color-coding of analysis and recommendations to identify which interventions meet these important goals. As a beloved place that is superlative with history, ecological, and hydrological resources, the Bushkill is a landmark of Palmer. Project goals that support connection and enhance activity will activate the Greenway within the framework of its ecological setting, creating an inclusive place for all.

The project goals include:

Communicate History

• Reveal the historic and cultural significance of the area through creative storytelling of archival research.

Support Connection

• Ensure all parks, trails, facilities, and creek access areas are ADA-compliant and inclusive for all residents and visitors.

• Strengthen the Palmer Bikeway/Two Rivers Trail system, co-aligned with the September 11th National Memorial Trail.

Enhance Activity

• Update existing parks facilities, including those identified in the National Wetland Inventory, to enhance safety and usability.

• Evaluate overlapping and conflicting park uses and make recommendations that improve the experience for all of the different user groups.

Protect & Restore Ecology

• Protect and enhance the creek’s habitat to withstand the potential effects of global climate change.

Create Resilient Hydrology

• Address significant flooding events in creekside parks and gateway intersections.

RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS

Related Planning Efforts

Planning for the improvement of the Bushkill Creek Corridor was a top priority identified in the Township’s 2020 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan: Tomorrow’s Palmer, Sustaining the Legacy. That recommendation served as a catalyst for this effort, which was made possible with funding assistance provided by the Northampton County Livable Landscapes Grant Program, as well as by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority. This plan will provide a map for future implementation of improvements, as grant and funding opportunities are pursued into the future.

Related master planning reports and documentation that influenced the decisions within the Bushkill Creek Master Plan include:

• Township ordinances related to parks, stormwater, and trails

• Bushkill Creek Watershed Act 167 (1992)

• Create Resilience Community Guidebook: Easton Area (2024)

• Create Resilience Regional Hazard Resiliency Plan (2024)

• FutureLV: The Regional Plan (2023)

• Lehigh and Northampton Natural Heritage Inventory (2013)

• Lehigh and Northampton Counties Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2024)

• Lehigh Valley Greenways Plan (2007)

• Lehigh Valley Return on Environment (2014)

• LV Greenways Action Plan (2024-2025)

• LVPC Greater Lehigh Valley Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2024)

• LVPC Lehigh Valley Trails Inventory (2013)

• LVPC LVData (2025)

• LVPC Walk/RollLV: Active Transportation Plan (2013)

• Northampton County Livable Landscapes Plan (2018)

• Palmer Township Parks Accessibility Report (2024)

• Palmer Township Active Transportation Plan (2025)

• Palmer Township Climate Action Plan (2024)

• Palmer Township Comprehensive Plan (2018)

• Palmer Township Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2022)

• Palmer Township Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (2020)

• Palmer Township Pollutant Reduction Plan (2025)

• Pennsylvania Land and Water Trail Network Strategic Plan (2020-2024)

• Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: Recreation for All (2025)

• Two Rivers Greenway Plan and Two Rivers Area Greenway Trails Implementation Study (2005)

ADA Accessibility Report

A recent report by the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living established a comprehensive inventory of all ADA access challenges in parks and along the Greenway. This information has been included in the individual analysis for each park, and was considered in each plan concept.

When parks are designed and constructed, this report should be consulted as a guide for all site elements that need to be brought up to current ADA standards.

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

How is this report used?

This master plan report contains a wide range of recommendations crosscutting numerous parks and other resources. The implementation for this plan will be largely grant driven, therefore the timing of implementation of each element my vary depending on funding availability. This report provides the data, analysis, and public input to support the Township’s efforts to obtain grants in the future, as outlined in the “Phasing and Cost Estimates” chapter.

The recommendations for the master plan are included in the following pages, summarizing overall / general objectives, as well as park-specific recommendations. Palmer Township should utilize this checklist to track progress throughout the implementation of the plan, evolving timelines and responsibilities as momentum grows and grant funding is achieved.

CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION

Overall Update this master plan 2040; if not a standalone plan, this update should be included as a part of a Parks/Open Space Master Plan update.

Overall Track annual progress toward the master plan and post on the project website; report to the Board of Supervisors annually.

Overall Create annual priorities for greenway improvements and grant applications; report to the Board of Supervisors annually or as grant applications occur.

Overall As parks are implemented, utilize the latest version of Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines as design standards.

Programming Discuss the Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan and programming goals with project partners that were identified in Survey #1 to gauge interest in potential events or education. Start with the top organizations listed: Nurture Nature Center, Bushkill Stream Conservancy, Lafayette College, Trout Unlimited, Wildlands Conservancy, etc.

Programming Implement one new programming idea along the Bushkill Creek Greenway each year. Monitor participation and interest, and evaluate whether the programs were a success. Refer to the requested programming from Survey #1.

Programming Discuss reviving the Trout Unlimited and Easton Area High School educational partnership for elementary school kids

Programming Use improvements to hydrology and ecology as a way to integrate programming and volunteerism

Hydrology Work with project partners to offer programming related to Aquatic Restoration and seeded mussel populations

Hydrology Work with Lafayette College, the Bushkill Stream Conservancy, and Wildlands Conservancy to determine feasibility of an updated H&H study of the Bushkill once all dams have been removed. Coordinate with FEMA to update FIRMs.

Hydrology Make improvements to Penn’s Grant Pathway and Open Space to improve soil erosion and water quality, per the Palmer Township Pollutant Reduction Plan

Ecology Track the amount of riparian buffers added or improved, and add to GIS files. Coordinate with the RBO overlay zone map.

Ecology Adopt policies that positively influence the watershed’s ecosystems, by incentivizing conversion to regenerative agriculture that reduced nutrient and pesticide runoff.

Ecology Encourage or require developers to reduce impervious paving and/or adapt upland development with green roofs, meadows, rain gardens, and micro forests that improve conditions at the high points of the watershed.

Ecology Connect forested blocks to create continuity in habitat and migration routes

Ecology When restoring ecosystems within parks, introduce a diversity of habitat types: meadow, grassland, riparian corridors, understory shrubs, and fruit/nut bearing trees

Create Maintenance standards and goals for sustainability, and make plans to decarbonize maintenance fleets

Maintenance Offer training to maintenance staff on native plant identification and care, to aid in the long-term success of lawn to meadow conversion within the Greenway. Wildlands Conservancy offers this training; if specific to trees,this can be offered by the Shade Tree Commission.

Maintenance Signage should allow community members to report small maintenance items like broken benches, pruning, etc. by including contact info in park signage so people can have a relationship with Township and be the “eyes and ears” of the park system.

Explore acquisition of smaller parcels adjacent to the Greenway; many of these are privately owned, so real estate listing should be monitored or private owners should be approached.

Acquire the Northwood Avenue building adjacent to Penn Pump Park, enabling the many improvements to the park outside of the 100-year

Install benches at locations shown along the trail length, to offer seating at a minimum of every quarter mile.

Greenway Trail Add solar trail security cameras at trailhead locations and at areas of high vandalism, such as outside bathrooms or pavilions.

Greenway Trail Install trail counters to ascertain trail usage in multiple seasons. Data should be utilized when applying for grants.

Greenway Trail Utilize volunteers and potential goatscaping to clear invasive plants along the length of the trail; integrate new native plants in zones that are cleared.

split rail posts with concrete posts that do not rot.

Greenway Trail Install trail rule signage, to be mounted at significant trailheads (Mill Race Park, Penn’s Grant Path, Penn Pump Park, and Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve.)

Greenway Trail Install trail markers along length of trail for the 9/11 Memorial Trail and Two Rivers Trailway

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

Greenway Trail Continue to explore the feasibility of crosswalks, bump-outs, and buffered bike lanes along the eastern side of the Bushkill Creek Greenway, at Bushkill Drive.

and interpretive

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

Penn Pump Park Add ADA accessible pathways at the site interior, with boardwalk and low floodplain improvement gardens; low points will have conveyance to the Creek to enhance drainage and post-flood conditions

Penn Pump Park Consider funding the acquisition of the condemned property at Northwood and Walter Avenue

Penn Pump Park Add sidewalk on Northwood Avenue, connecting to Forks Township’s Lions Park

Penn Pump Park Create a stepped, wooded amphitheater at the site of the current ball field; add

and enhanced riparian buffer

Pump Park Install parking lot and park exit along Walter Avenue, if the condemned lot is

Penn Pump Park Build new restrooms with storage and water bottle refill stations outside of the 100year floodplain, and renovate the stone pavilion to accommodate more picnic space

Penn Pump Park Create a nature play area adjacent to the new parking and restrooms, located outside of the 100-year floodplain to help protect equipment

trail that leads to JG Mills (to be

When riparian buffer zone is complete, focus on other restoration closer to the trail, such as the zone with a stiltgrass invasion.

Consider adding public art within the preserve, and potentially partner with Karl Stirner Arts Trail on extending art and programming.

of connecting to the Palmer Park Mall.

Public Participation Chapter 3

Public Engagement PLANNING PROCESS

Planning

5/1/25 to 9/17/25

05/17/25, 9am Easton Farmer's Market

05/19/25, 7pm Board of Supervisors 5/17/25to 6/22/25

This community-driven master plan was shaped by resident voices and ambitions to inform the future of the Bushkill Greenway. In prioritizing equitable, inclusive, accessible, and quality experiences for all residents, the public engagement process sought feedback from people of diverse backgrounds and experiences to define a collective vision. Engagement activities were publicized through social media, e-mailers, newsletters, and posted signs. An inclusive approach to engagement yielded a collaborative planning process with many voices shaping the plan.

Public Meetings

Four public meetings were held during the planning process. These meetings provided residents and Palmer Township leadership with opportunities to learn about the plan, take the project surveys, ask questions, and engage in discussions with the planning team. Public meetings were held in-person at the Palmer Township Municipal Building or Chrin Community Center on the following dates:

• 05/19/25, Board of Supervisors Meeting

• 08/19/25, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting

• 12/09/25, Planning & Zoning Meeting

• 3/2/2026, Board of Supervisors Meeting

Key Person Interviews

“Key Person” interviews were helpful for capturing important perspectives to inform the plan. Omnes conducted interviews with 10 representatives of the organizations listed below to learn their perspectives about the parks and greenway:

• Bushkill Stream Conservancy

• Easton Area School District

• Forks Township

• Jacobsburg State Park & Environmental Education Center • Lafayette College • Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

Public Engagement Process

PLANNING PROCESS

• Northampton County Conservation District

• PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

• Palmer Township Athletic Association

• Palmer Township, Department of Community and Economic Development

• Palmer Township, Department of Parks and Recreation

• Palmer Township, Department of Public Works

• Palmer Township Police Department

• Tatamy Borough

A summary of these interviews is included in the plan Appendix.

Community Surveys

Public engagement for the planning process centered on two community surveys that sought residents’ feedback about their desires for park and trail improvements, and helped inform the plan’s concepts and recommendations.

Survey 1 welcomed initial input about community attitudes, values, and desires. Survey 2 asked for

residents’ comment/feedback about specific design concepts for the Greenway. A total of 528 responses were received across both surveys, with Survey 1 receiving 452 responses and Survey 2 receiving 76 responses.

Summaries of these surveys are found in the following pages, and full survey results can be reviewed in the project Appendix.

Project Website

Palmer Township created a project website for residents to stay informed about events, meetings, and publicly posted presentations and research. The planning team also created a Story Map for the project that outlines observations and ecological research. Developed by Wildlands Conservancy, the Story Map offered extensive information and made it possible for users to “visit” the Greenway virtually.

• Project Website: www.palmertwp.com/ bushkill-creek-greenway.html

• Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/ stories/d44a137041b74ba69713b915da8ef5ea

POP-UP 1: EASTON FARMER’S MARKET

05/17/25, 9am to 1 pm

Write-in Responses

“Connect Palmer Trail to KSAT!”

“Recycling bins”

“Options for experiences along the trail”

“More Pennsylvania natives”

“More trash cans”

“Add more shade”

“Skip rocks” “Hammocks!” “Riding bikes”

“Education about plant life”

“Better connectivity”

“Pull-up bars + monkey bars”

“Fish habitat!”

“PA native plants”

“Bike maintenance stations”

“Increase creek habitat!”

“Signage”

Pop-Up #1 Responses, Easton Farmer’s Market, 05/17/25, 8am to 1 pm

“Coffee cart”

“More greenway”

“Connect to Plainfield”

“Brighter signage for bike crossings”

PROJECT GOALS

Communicate History (none shown) Support Connection Enhance Activity Protect & Restore Ecology Create Resilient Hydrology

Public Engagement Process

POP-UP 2: MILL RACE PARK PIZZA PARTY

7/10/25, 5-8pm

Write-in Responses

Bike station!

More places to sit walking the trail

Bike helmets

Rules posted

Shared walk/bike path

Connect trails

Get rid of all motorized vehicles on trails

More security on trail/at park

Extend trail beyond Tatamy

Extend trail

Music amphitheater

Disc golf

More swings

Playgrounds for older and little kids

Natural play space

Games for older kids

Bigger playground

Basketball court

Paper airplane making event

Dog parks [4 mentions]

More trash cans

Basketball courts

More shade

Trees that are leaning trimmed

Shade trees

More shade trees

Put up bat houses

Trees/shade

Shaded playground area

Creek access

PROJECT GOALS

Communicate History

Support Connection

Enhance Activity

Protect & Restore Ecology

Create Resilient Hydrology

What are the most important priorities for Mill Race Park? (3 votes per person)

107 total responses

All responses

Better access to the Bushkill Creek

Restoration of nature & habitat

Restroom improvements

Places to sit, rest, or gather

Community events and programming

ADA accessible walkways

Nature play

More pickleball courts

POP-UP 3: PALMER COMMUNITY DAYS

8/14/25, 5-8 PM

Write-in Responses

Make it beautiful

Already awesome

Station for relaxation, and charging, bike pump, button for assistance

Cameras

Lights on path

Water stations

Lights on path

Trash cans

Better walkways

Trail etiquette signage

Long candle pathway to bring friends or lovers

Be clean

Water refill station

More walking paths and plants

More places to sit and rest along trail

Water fountains

Bike

Shelter for when it rains

Less trash

Pet water station

Better paved path

Lights

Keep out of state cars, people out of Penn Pump

Games

Playgrounds

Roller coasters

Slides

Shaded playgrounds

Rock wall

Starbucks

Monkey bars

Toy animals

Pickleball

Playgrounds

Ice cream trucks

Zip line

Zip line at playground

More to the park

Fairy garden for people to relax at

Public Engagement Process

SURVEY #1 RESULTS

SURV E Y NO . 1

452 responses

May 17, 2025 to June 22, 2025

The first community survey for the plan took place after the analysis phase, and helped to inform conceptual designs and recommendations for the Greenway. The response goal for the first survey was 200-300 responses, with a minimum of 100 responses from Palmer Township residents. This goal was based upon the aim of achieving participation of a minimum of 1% of the Township’s population, representing a statistically valid sample. The survey exceeded its response goal and had a total of 452 responses, with 187 responses from Palmer residents. This survey was promoted by the Township on social media, as well as news media reporting about the project and digital advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.

The full results of this survey can be found in the Appendix.

Where Respondents Lived

SURVEY #2 RESULTS

SURV E Y NO . 2

76 responses

January 7, 2026 to February 4, 2026

The second community survey was held after the project’s final public meeting, and was an opportunity for members of the public to weigh in about the project and draft concepts. No participation goal was set for this survey, as it was not intended to gather qualitative data but rather to serve as a forum for receiving public comment. Respondents’ comments were reviewed by the planning team and considered in the final editing and refinement of the master plan, prior to the release of this report.

The full results of this survey can be found in the Appendix.

Background Information Chapter 4

Community Background

DEMOGRAPHICS

Palmer Township is a planned community in the Lehigh Valley that offers a high quality of life. One of the larger communities in the region, the Township has a higher median household income than the state of Pennsylvania overall (which is $80,060 for 2025). Palmer Township also has a higher rate of home ownership at 80.6% (PA state median is 69.3%), and is home to many families and children. The majority of residents are white (76.2%), with a smaller percentage of Black (3.9%) and Asian (5.9%) residents. Fifteen percent of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and 17.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home.

Palmer Township is projected to add approximately 8,016 more residents by 2050, according to a December 2025 forecast1 from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC).

1. https://lvpc.org/datalv

Average Household Size

2.49 People

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, “Households and Persons Per Household” ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023.

Home Ownership Rate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Selected housing characteristics” ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04, 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “income in the past 12 months (in 2023 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)” ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table S1901, 2023.

By types of families

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Selected housing characteristics” ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04, 2023.

Families

Married Couple Families

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “income in the past 12 months (in 2023 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)” ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table S1901, 2023.

Total Population

22,390

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Population estimates” July 1, 2023, v2023. Quick Facts, accessed February 25, 2025.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Educational Attainment)” ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table S1501, 2023.

Age

Persons under 5 years

Persons under 18 years

Persons 65 years and over

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Age and Sex, Palmer Township, PA,” Quick Facts, accessed February 25, 2025.

Median Age

46.7 Years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “AGE & Sex” ACS 5-Year Estimates, TABLE S0101, 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Race & Hispanic Origin, Palmer Township, PA” Quick Facts, accessed February 25, 2025.

Hispanic Origin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Race & Hispanic Origin, palmer township, PA,” Quick Facts, accessed February 25, 2025.

Access & Connectivity

WALKABILITY & PUBLIC TRANSIT

The Bushkill Creek Greenway serves a large number of people from communities in Palmer and adjacent to the Township (especially the municipalities of Forks Township, Tatamy Borough, and the City of Easton).

The map on this spread shows zones within a 10- and 15-minute walk of the Greenway, using its various entry points. Most people who use the Bushkill Creek Greenway walk or bike from their homes or drive to access points and parks along the Creek. This is partially due to the topography surrounding the site, but also to the behaviors of suburban development where car dependency is higher than more dense, urban conditions. The roadways that link to the Greenway do not have dedicated bike lanes or sharrows that allow users to bike to the trails.

Transit access to the parks and trails of the Bushkill Creek Greenway is lacking. There is only one LANTA stop within a 10-minute walk of a Bushkill Creek Greenway. There are only five LANTA stops within a 15-minute walk of a Bushkill Creek Greenway.

Q2: When you visit a park or trail on the Bushkill Creek Greenway, how do you usually get there?

443 total responses (9 skipped), Survey #1 Results

How does Palmer's trail system compare with national medians?

Evolution of the Bushkill

CULTURAL-ECOLOGICAL TIMELINE

Interactions between humans and the Bushkill Creek have occurred throughout history, shaping the ecosystem and culture around this unique and dynamic waterway. The timelines on the following pages highlight various aspects of historic development.

The arc of history brings us now to an era of sophisticated ecological knowledge and climate science, building upon historic settlement, industrialization, and post-industrial decline. The trajectory of the future of the Bushkill Creek Greenway depends upon how humans will relate with and care for nature, and whether we devote our resources to protect this community asset.

“Wild brook trout need the coldest and cleanest water, like that which flows in a small stream beneath a shady forest.Today, most of these shaded streams can be found only in the forested mountains. That’s because much of our landscape has been opened up to agriculture and development.

- Walt Dietz2

Creek Uses: Major Influences:

Indigenous Land Practices [10,000 Years Ago]

Fish from the Bushkill were a significant food source for the Lenape, the native people of the Lehigh Valley, including the native brook trout which once thrived in the streams.

Colonial Settlement [1600s - 1700s]

European settlers cleared the forests for fuel, homes, furniture and tools. Eventually large-scale demand for timber production in northeastern Pennsylvania led to major deforestation in the region.

Effects on waterway:

Limited clearing of the land meant that the creek was surrounded by forest which shaded and cooled its waters, a primary characteristic needed for the native brook trout and associated flora and fauna

1. (Bushkill Stream Conservancy Pamphlet, 2022. Marx room at the Easton Area Public Library)

Lack of forests changed the habitat for the native brook trout. Water temperatures rose too high to support native brook trout. With no vegetation to hold the soil, the banks eroded and silt washed into spawning habitat

2. (Bushkill Stream Conservancy. (2005). Sobers Run Coldwater Conservation Plan. Bushkill Township, PA. Retrieved from https:// bushkill.org/wp-content/)uploads/2019/11/2005-sobers-runconservation-plan.pdf

Wagener Homestead & Dam - now known as Dam 6 above Penn Pump Park

Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Easton & Northern Railroad along Bushkill Creek

Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Early Industry [1700s - 1800s]

Small dams and mills were built along the Bushkill to harness hydraulic power for milling grains and lumber. Wheat flour was sent primarily to Philadelphia and New York.

Railroads, Pigment & Urbanization [Early 1900s]

Railroads were built along the creek to transport coal and other materials. New industries developed along the Bushkill including the Binney & Smith company which bought one of the mills along the creek to manufacture pencils.

Dams formed barriers to fish migration, disrupting their migration and the species that depend on them such as the freshwater mussel. Dams disrupted the flow of the creek which contributed to flooding, erosion and reduced water quality

Land was cleared and graded along the creek, further disrupting the forested riparian buffer. Dams remained but were decreasing in use for milling or power. The creek was stocked with introduced fish such as the European brown trout to support fishing recreation

4. (Central Railroad of New Jersey Wikipedia). (https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/binney-smith-inchistory/)

3. (Industry along the Bushkill, Marx room at the Easton Public Library)

Evolution of the Bushkill

CULTURAL-ECOLOGICAL TIMELINE

Construction work on Bushkill Drive, 1968

Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Librar y

Creek Uses: Major Influences:

Post Industrial Decline & Suburbanization [Mid 1900s]

The population of Palmer Township greatly increased following WWII. Development encroached on waterways and riparian areas. In 1968, Bushkill Drive roadway was widened and the creek was re-channeled.

Nazareth High school Students working in the Bushkill Creek, 1979

Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Ecological Awareness & Re-wilding [Late 1900s - Now]

In 1991, the Bushkill Stream Conservancy was formalized; its original intent was to explore a recreational trail utilizing abandoned rail lines along Bushkill Creek. In 2021, the first dam removal project of the Bushkill for restoration purposes occurred.

Effects on waterway:

Depleted riparian buffers left waterway unprotected from runoff. The Creek was dredged and re-channeled, decimating water quality. The Bushkill Watershed Association was formed to restore the creek and bank.

• Restoration planting

• Educational programs

• Trash clean-up days

• Hydraulic studies

• Conservation planning

• Dam removal began to improve stream health

Bushkill flooding at the old Stocker Mill, 1984

Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Future

As climate change accelerates, restoring ecosystems like Bushkill Creek will become increasingly essential. This master plan will set a course for deeper ecological restoration while expanding inclusive access to recreation and environmental education for the entire Bushkill Creek Greenway community.

Evolution of the Bushkill

CULTURAL-ECOLOGICAL TIMELINE

The early colonial settlers of this region established household mills along the Bushkill that provided power for making various items: textiles, lumber, and grains. In the mid-1800s, railroads were built along the creek to transport coal and other materials. New industries developed along the Bushkill, with the railroad linking northward to Tatamy and Southward to the Delaware River in Easton.

One of the most famous industrial developments in Palmer Township was the Binney & Smith Company, which is still known for the manufacture of crayons. The company bought the mill to manufacture pencils and eventually crayons.

These dams were built for functional purposes, at a time when there was no consideration of, nor laws for, ecological health or clean water. The socio-economic movements that followed this industrial development would re-frame the role of dammed waterways in America.

“A lot of the dams were built for past industrial use and the mills are no longerthere.But the dams are still there and creating a lot of environmental issues and a lot of stormwater issues,too.”

- Kristie Fach, Director of Ecological Restoration, Wildlands Conservancy4

1. Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

2. Source: Science History Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Source: Central Railroad of New Jersey Wikipedia; (https://www. fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/binney-smith-inc-history/)

4. Source: Bilinski, Molly. “The Creek’s Flowing Again: Easton Dam Removed as Part of Bushkill Creek Restoration.” LehighValleyNews. com, June 5, 2024. https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/environment-science/the-creeks-flowing-again-easton-dam-removed-aspart-of-bushkill-creek-restoration.

5. Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

6. Source: 1944, NCHGS

Easton & Northern Railroad along Bushkill Creek 1

Conrail, 1985 1

Binney & Smith Co Crayon Box, 1926 2

HISTORIC MILLS & DAMS

Wagener Spring House

Newlins Mill, Formerly Wagener’s Mill Homestead & Dam1

Stocker Mill & Dam

Walter’s Mill & Dam (Penn Pump)5

Overholt Mill & Dam5

Kelper’s Mill6

Binney & Smith Pigment Plant, Former Mill & Dam

Leighton Mills

Hester Flour Mill & Dam

Evolution of the Bushkill

FISHING ON THE BUSHKILL

Home to wild trout, the Bushkill has always been a center for fishing. The creek is a high quality cold water fishery that supports large populations of wild brown trout. However, stressors from land-use practices, urban development, and stormwater had severely degraded this section of the Bushkill Creek, limiting its recreation value for the community, as well as its suitability for native fish and wildlife habitat.

Stressors from obsolete dams, land-use practices, development, and stormwater erosion have contributed to the creek’s degradation, limiting recreational value and suitability for native fish populations, as well as the mussel communities they support. Freshwater mussels are filter feeders that play a key role in removing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants from local creeks and streams. Their lifecycle is dependent upon species like trout and shad being able to migrate throughout waterways like the Bushkill and the Delaware.

Studies documenting the presence of aquatic macroinvertebrates that indicate a healthy stream (as well as flying and crawling macroinvertebrates such as mayflies and stoneflies) have been conducted on the Bushkill for more than 40 years.1 These studies show a decline in populations within the Bushkill Creek Greenway in more recent years. This decline spells trouble for resident fish populations and corresponding recreational opportunities.

“Depletedfishpopulationsbrought aboutconcern.Thearistocracyofthe NewWorldenjoyedsportfishing,but therewerenofish!Theirsolutiontothe problemwastostocknewfish.There waslittlethoughtaboutrestoring orimprovinghabitat.Theybelieved thatstockingfishwouldbringback goodpopulations.Italsogavetheman opportunitytoduplicatethespecies thattheyoncecaughtintheirhomeland —Europe...BrowntroutfromEurope wereintroducedinthelate1800s..."

“Rainbow trout were eventually transferredfromwesternNorthAmerica to the East Coast. Brown, rainbow and brook trout were raised in hatcheries and then released into the wild.

Littledidtheyknowthattheywere providingasourceofcompetitionforthe nativebrooktrout.Whentheyco-existin thesamehabitat,browntroutcompete withbrooktroutforresources.”

- Walt Dietz2

https://bushkill.org/learn-about-the-bushkill/stream-health/

Fishing on the Bushkill Creek, 1987

Trout Fishing

1st Day of Fishing On The Bushkill: April 14, 1975

1. Image Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

2. Source: Bushkill Stream Conservancy. (2005). Sobers

1956 Flood Run Coldwater Conservation Plan. Bushkill Township, PA.

1952 Flood 1957 Drought

Evolution of the Bushkill

STRAIGHTENING & WIDENING OF BUSHKILL DRIVE, 1968

The late 1960s was an era of American highway development, which brought physical change to the shape of Bushkill Creek and Bushkill Drive. A study summarizing changes made during that time noted that, “The Highway Department felt that the road was too full of curves and therefore hazardous for trucks and school buses . . .”2 The road was re-aligned, requiring explosives to break up gneiss cliff faces, bulldozing, and re-forming the curves of the road and creek. The Creek bed was also reformed in response, with a remnant of the former path still evident near Mill Race Park at Newlins Mill Road.

“...Alot of public protest resulted from the re-channeling ofthe creek —manytrees were bulldozed down, cliffs were dynamited,and creek banks were destroyed.”

- A 1972 water quality study of the Bushkill Creek from

Path of Bushkill Creek

Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Before & after views of the 1968 Bushkill Drive construction and creek re-channeling

Construction work on Bushkill Drive, 1968 2

NEWLINS MILL RD.

TATAMY RD.

BUSHKILL DRIVE

NEWLINS MILL RD.

TATAMY RD.

Evolution of the Bushkill

ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS & RE-WILDING

The late 1960s and early 1970s brought about the environmental movement, where a return to natural processes became part of the discussion of landscapes. After years of informal work within the Bushkill Creek, the Bushkill Stream Conservancy was formed in 1991. The group has been monitoring and caring for the creek since that time, working to protect it from the threats of pollution, upstream quarrying, erosion, and a number of utilities to support surrounding suburban development.

“Every daythere’s a newthreat to Bushkill Creek.Within the last year there was extensive fish kill on the Little Bushkill.Anew chemical plant went into operation on the flood plain a short distance from the creek. Just last week plans to rebuild the dam atTatamy and approval for an oil pipe line which will cross the creek were announced...This is a rapidly urbanizing area [and]without action on the part of residents,Bushkill Creek can change from an asset to a liability.”

- Raymond W. Grant, President of the Bushkill Watershed Association, February 16, 19734

1. Image Source: Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

2. Source: Palmer Township, https://palmertwp.com/bike-walking-paths.

html Source: Science History Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Source: Wildlands Conservancy

4. Source: Bushkill Watershed Association Newsletter, February 1973. Marx Room at the Easton Public Library

Palmer Township Recreation Trail, at former rail line (Initiated in 1970s) 2

Nazareth High School Bio Students working in the Bushkill, May 30th, 1979 1

Dam #1 removed along the Bushkill, 2023 3

Site Inventory & Analysis Chapter 5

Access & Connectivity

GREENWAY ACCESS

The Greenway is surrounded by Tatamy Borough to the north, Forks Township to the east, and the City of Easton to the south. Though the 114 acres of the Greenway are within Palmer Township, there are important access points necessary to access the trail and parks that are through surrounding municipalities. A multi-jurisdictional approach to trail connections and improvements will help each community to leverage connectivity and walkable access.

Shown on the map at right, four out of 10 parking areas are located in Forks Township, on the eastern side of the Creek. Most of these crossings from parking areas pose a safety risk, since there are no crosswalks across Bushkill Drive at park/trail access points.

The map also shows four pedestrian/bike only bridges across the Bushkill Creek, indicated in dark green. As seen in the photos below, not all of these have a sidewalk on both sides of the bridge, creating a barrier to trail connection and ADA access.

The 2025 Active Transportation Plan outlines connections for trails, bridges, and connections that should be implemented in concert with this master plan.

GREENWAY ACCESS

Bridge at Mill Race Park (Newlins Mill Road)

at Two Fool's Island (Stocker Mill Road)

Bridge at Penn Pump Park (Northwood Avenue)

Pedestrian Bridge at Penn Pump Park (Bridge B) [1]

Pedestrian Bridge at Binney & Smith Preserve

over area at Waterfowl Observation Area

Bridge at Bushkill Park (Bushkill Park Drive)

Bridge at Binney & Smith (Edgewood Avenue)

Zoning Context

ZONING & OVERLAY DESIGNATIONS

Existing parks and potential open space fall within districts where public parks and recreation are permitted as principal use, and most of the surrounding context of the Greenway is low-density residential use.

Zoning helps to inform considerations for planning concepts of the Greenway’s parks. Each park will need to meet bulk standards and impervious requirements for its own zoning district with consideration of overlay districts.

All future work within the 100-year floodplain should focus on nature-based solutions, habitat enhancement, and other ecologically driven activities, and should comply with the Riparian Buffer Overlay District Requirements. It must also be compliant with federal, state, and local floodplain rules and regulations. The Riparian Buffer Overlay District is delineated by the 100year floodplain and has similar permitted uses that align with proposed recreation activities. Many of the trails along the Greenway fall within this Overlay District.

The Bushkill corridor’s parks fall within a variety of base zoning districts including low-, medium-, and highdensity residential zones, as well as light industrial/ mixed use. The parks and trails also fall within the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay District and the Riparian Buffer Overlay District. The Parks Recreation, and Open Space Overlay district allows for a number of activities including recreation, community gardens, campgrounds, golf courses, and nature reserves. The corridor parks fall within this Overlay District.

The base zoning district requirements, including building setbacks and impervious cover limits, should be followed for each respective park. For instance, if a park falls within the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Overlay District and the Medium-Density Residential District, recreation activities are permitted as long as no more than 50% of the site has impervious cover and yard setbacks are maintained from adjacent residential structures.

Zoning Ordinances also dictate parking requirements. For indoor recreation facilities, 1 space for every 300 square feet of floor area and 1 space per 3 spectators

is required. For outdoor facilities, 1 space is required for every 1,000 square feet of outdoor field and 500 square feet of court or rink in addition to 1 space per 3 spectator seats. Nature reserves require 1 space per each full-time employee. If new parking facilities are proposed at the parks that exceed 6 spaces, the parking lot will need to have lighting. One tree is required for every 15 parking spaces in a lot.

A summary of zones and overlay categories follows on the next page.

Zucksville

Zoning & Code

ZONING & OVERLAY DESIGNATIONS

This page outlines zoning designations for categories of land use adjacent to the Bushkill Creek Greenway. There are other zoning categories shown in the map on the previous page that are not directly adjacent to the Greenway, including:

• General Commercial

• Planned Office/Business

• Main Street Commercial

• Industrial/Office Commercial

• North End Business

Low Density Residential

• Parks in Zoning District: Keystone Park

• Potential Future Open Space: Stocker Mill Road, Trails

• Permitted Uses Include: Community garden, nature reserve, public park/recreation

• Permitted Accessory Uses Include: Noncommercial recreational facility for household/ residents

Medium Density Residential

• Parks in Zoning District: Penn’s Grant Open Space, Villages at Mill Race Open Space, Mill Race Park, Mill Race Tot Lot, Bushkill Open Space, Hill Crest Tot Lot, Trails

• Permitted Uses Include: Community garden, nature reserve, public park/recreation

• Permitted Accessory Uses Include: Non-commercial recreational facility for household/residents

High Density Residential

• Parks in Zoning District: Trails

• Permitted Uses Include: Community garden, nature reserve, public park/recreation

• Permitted Accessory Uses Include: Noncommercial recreational facility for household/ residents, bus shelters, and communitysupported agriculture delivery station

Light Industrial/Mixed Use

• Parks in Zoning District: Penn Pump Park, Binney and Smith Open Space

• Potential Future Open Space; Northwood Avenue, Trails

• Permitted Uses Include: Artisan, craft, exercise or performing arts studios, commercial indoor recreation use, golf courses, and public parks and recreation

• Permitted Accessory Uses Include: Food trucks

Parks, Recreation And Open Space Overlay

• Permitted Uses: Campground (tents), cemetery, community garden, crop farming, golf course, nature reserve, plant nursery, public park/recreation

Riparian Buffer Overlay District

• Overlay District = 100-year floodplain

• Permitted Uses: Campground (tents), commercial outdoor recreation use, community garden, crop farming, forestry, golf course, nature reserve, plant nursery, public park/ recreation

• Prohibited: Use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides (except for invasive species)

TOWNSHIP STORMWATER ORDINANCES

At the overall scale of the Greenway, there are many stormwater improvements that will enhance the impact for stormwater management and water quality: naturalizing mowed areas, plantings along streams, stabilizing eroded areas, and replacing undersized culverts.

On a park scale, stormwater infrastructure will have to manage runoff from impervious surfaces. Naturalizing areas with native meadows, forested buffers, and floodplain improvements can work to reduce erosion and flooding. The proposed designs also reduce impervious surfaces so that overall runoff is lessened. Replacing select areas of lawn with perennial plantings will reduce mowing burdens for maintenance teams.

When Is A Township Stormwater Permit Required?

• =/+1,000 SF of land alteration that may affect runoff

• =/+5,000 SF of earth disturbance

• =/+1,000 SF of impervious surfaces

• Projects over this threshold will need either a minor or major stormwater permit

Where can a stormwater system be located?

• Outside of 100-year floodplains and riparian buffers

• Outside of setbacks from property lines, septic systems, wells, Karst features, and buildings

What do stormwater systems need to do?

• Reduce peak rates

• Manage volume

• Meet water quality goals

Other requirements:

• For major stormwater permits, projects must

create riparian buffer easements equal to the 100-year floodplain or 50 feet from the stream’s top of bank (whichever is greater)

Additional Considerations:

• Phased implementation of park elements may contribute to cumulative thresholds for impervious surfaces.

• Due to limitation of infiltrating in carbonate rock and other infiltration criteria, several stormwater systems may be required for improvements at each park.

• Adequate space should be reserved for surface systems.

Image

Source: Wildlands Conservancy

Ecology

ECOSYSTEM TYPES

The maps shown here show habitat on the Greenway through the lens of the Northeastern Terrestrial Habitat Classification System (NETHCS), a sciencebased framework built on ecological systems and natural community classifications developed by NatureServe and other experts. These classifications draw on patterns in plant communities, environmental gradients, and underlying ecosystem processes.

There are four main types of ecosystems that exist within the Bushkill Creek Greenway, and the main species within these communities are shown in the charts below:

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

• Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland

• North-Central Appalachian Large River Floodplain

• The pink tone is “urban” soils, which are largely disturbed due to development, and therefore cannot be squarely categorized.

• See the appendix for full-size maps of these ecosystems

Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland

Trees eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

pignut hickory (Carya glabra)

red oak (Quercus rubra)

sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

white oak (Quercus alba)

Shrubs downy arrow-wood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

running serviceberry (Amelanchier humilis)

Herbaceous barren strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)

glade flax (Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum)

hairy beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)

hairy pinweed (Lechea mucronata)

orange-grass st. john's-wort (Hypericum gentianoides)

prairie ragwort (Packera plattensis)

bergamot (Monarda fistulosa ssp. 1)

violet bushclover (Lespedeza violacea)

western hairy rockcress (Arabis hirsuta)

western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)

cliff stonecrop (Sedum glaucophyllum)*

hidden spikemoss (Selaginella eclipes)*

tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum)*

three-lobed violet (Viola triloba)*

Mill Race Park

Penn's Grant Open Space

Keystone Park

Penn Pump Park

Hillcrest Open Space & Tot Lot Binney & Smith Preserve

Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

Trees black birch (Betula lenta) black oak (Quercus velutina)

hickory (Carya spp.)

red maple (Acer rubrum) red oak (Quercus rubra)

scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)

white oak (Quercus alba)

yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

Herbaceous American wintergreen (Pyrola americana)

basil beebalm (Monarda clinopodia)

blunt-lobe woodsia (Woodsia obtusa)

bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix)

common alexanders (Zizia auwrea)

early buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis)

shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica) sicklepod (Arabis canadensis)

climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum)*

goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)*

small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides)*

North-Central Appalachian Large River Floodplain

Trees box elder (Acer negundo) cottonwood (Populus deltoides ) silver maple (Acer saccharinum) sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Herbaceous basil beebalm (Monarda clinopodia) green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense) nodding trillium (Trillium flexipes) smooth burmarigold (Bidens laevis) american lotus (Nelumbo lutea)*

coast violet (Viola brittoniana)*

eastern prairie white-fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea)*

heartleaf plantain (Plantago cordata)*

limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens)* long's bulrush (Scirpus longii)* maryland bur-marigold (Bidens bidentoides)* navel-shape cornsalad (Valerianella umbilicata)* stalked bulrush (Scirpus pedicellatus)* tidal spikerush (Eleocharis aestuum)*

Source: Nature.ly. "Habitat Guide." Accessed April 29, 2025. http:// nature.ly/HabitatGuide.

Ecology

OBSERVED HABITATS & SPECIES ALONG THE GREENWAY

A diversity of plants and animals call the Bushkill Creek and Greenway home. With a number of different ecosystems and topographic settings, there are niches that are a host to many species. Through restoration and conservation of ecosystems, symbiotic relationships between plants and animals can stabilize these food chains. Climate change responses should consider not just human needs and comfort, but also non-humans who survival depends upon the health of the Bushkill Creek Greenway.

For more information on where these species can be found, visit the project’s StoryMap.1

Aquatic Mammals* Larger Mammals**

Found in: Wooded/naturalized stream corridor and wetland

1. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ d44a137041b74ba69713b915da8ef5ea

2. Forks of the Delaware Chapter, Trout Unlimited. 2010 ARC Bushkill Creek Electro-fishing Survey. 2010. https:// forksofthedelaware.tu.org/sites/default/ files/2010%20ARC%20Bushkill%20 Creek%20Electro-fishing%20Survey.pdf.

Mammals

Found in: Mixed landscape

Reptiles & Amphibians (Herptiles)

Found in: Natural wetlands and ephemeral wet areas

Reptiles & Amphibians (Herptiles)

Found in: Drier wooded areas along Palmer Bikeway Trail

Found in: Class

Common muskrat*

mink*

deer**

Big brown bat Coyote Red fox

Northern spring peeper

Northern green frog Pickerel frog Northern leopard frog Northern water snake Ribbon snake Eastern garter snake

Wood frog Northern black racer Northern ringneck snake

Fish species

A sections of Bushkill Creek

Brown trout Rainbow trout Brook trout Smallmouth bass Largemouth bass Slimy sculpin White sucker Blacknose dace

Cutlips minnow Longnose dace American eel Pumpkinseed (Sun perch) Common shiner

Song Birds / Found in: Woodland Areas

Bird species / Found in: Mix of habitats throughout the Greenway

Waterfowl* Raptors** Wading Birds*** Other water-dependent species**** Found in: Streams, wetlands, and wooded riparian corridors

Ground nesting birds / Found in: Open areas and young woodland habitat

Black-billed cuckoo Yellow-billed cuckoo Eastern wood pewee

phoebe

Great crested flycatcher

Chickadee sp. Nuthatch sp.

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Wood thrush

Red-eyed vireo Black-andwhite warbler American redstart Ovenbird

Rose-breasted grosbeack Sparrow sp. Baltimore oriole

Song Birds / Found in: Open areas along streams and wetlands

Purple martin Tree swallow Raptors / Found in: Forested Areas*

Black

eagle *(Habitat unspecified due to sensitive nature of species )

Ruby-throated hummingbird Red-winged blackbird Chimney swift

swallow Northern mockingbird

Ruffed grouse Ring-necked pheasant American woodcock Wild turkey

Hydrology + Ecology IMPERVIOUS

The Bushkill Creek Watershed is one of the largest in Northampton County, draining approximately 51,200 acres from 6 boroughs and 8 townships. Within Palmer Township, the Bushkill is a key tributary to the Delaware River in Easton. The Schoeneck Creek is a tributary to the Bushkill Creek.

Development within the Greenway’s drainage area increases the amount of runoff entering Bushkill Creek and exacerbates flooding conditions, and these pressures are projected to worsen as storm volumes and frequency increase due to climate change, affecting the resiliency of the natural systems and adjacent land uses throughout the creek corridor.

The drainage area to the Greenway within Palmer Township is largely composed of developed area with impervious cover and agricultural uses. Based on landcover data, impervious cover (buildings, parking lots, roadways, etc.) has increased 955 acres between 2001 and 2019 within the Greenway Drainage Area inside Palmer Township.2 If development trends continue, approximately 500 additional acres of impervious are projected to be added to this drainage area by 2030.

According to the National Water Quality Assessment Program, agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water quality impacts to rivers and streams, the thirdlargest source affecting lakes, and the second-largest contributor to wetland impairments in the United States. Each year, about 500,000 tons of pesticides and millions of tons of fertilizers are applied to crops.3

Impervious Cover Changes

Bushkill Creek Greenway Study Area

Drainage Area Land Cover

Greenway Drainage Area within Palmer Township.

Impervious Area

Changes

Greenway Drainage Area within Palmer Township.

ImperviousAreaChanges Greenway Drainage Area withinPalmerTownship

Additional 500+ Acres of Impervious by 2030 if Trend Continues

The drainage area includes less than 1% of land consis ng of a mix of Barren Land, Shrub/Scrub, Mixed Forest, and Evergreen Forest.

+955 acres of Impervious Between 2001 and 2019

Anticipate

Impervious cover data retrieved from Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access for 2001, 2008, 2013, and 2019. Best fit equation used for projection:

BUSHKILL CREEK WATERSHED LAND

Hydrology

SOIL INFILTRATION POTENTIAL

The area around the Greenway includes soils with potentially high infiltration capacity.

The Hydrologic Soil Group describes the ability of a soil to infiltrate water runoff from storms, which reduces surface runoff volumes. A higher quality of the hydrologic soil group demonstrates the ability for stormwater to be recharged into the ground, instead of flowing into the downstream waterways or stormwater piping system. Hydrologic Soil Group A has high infiltration, B has moderate infiltration, C has slow infiltration, and D has very slow infiltration.

Based on data from USDA’s Web Soil Survey, the areas along the Bushkill Creek Greenway generally have B soils or no assigned hydrologic soil group. No assigned hydrologic soil group is often associated with urban fill conditions which lead to uncertainty in infiltration capacity; this is why site testing should be performed to confirm infiltration capacity.

Planning Considerations:

• Soil investigations during more detailed design will be required to confirm infiltration rates. Infiltration must be between 0.5 in/hr and 12 in/hr per Palmer Township ordinances to allow for infiltrating stormwater practices.

• Impervious surfaces should be located on areas with Hydrologic Soil Group C or D where feasible to reduce impacts on runoff patterns.

Key Terms:

• Hydrologic Soil Group: Indication of the amount of runoff to be expected when the soil is saturated1

• Infiltration: Portion of rainfall or runoff that moves downward into the subsurface soils and rock 2

BUSHKILL CREEK CORRIDOR ANALYSIS

SCHOENECKCREEK

HYDROLIC SOIL TYPES

SOIL INFILTRATION

A: High Infiltration

B: Moderate Infiltration

C: Slow Infiltration

D: Very Slow Infiltration

B/D: Either moderate or very slow infiltration, depending on subsurface conditions

OTHER VALUES

Other Values

CORRIDOR PARK BOUNDARIES

PALMER

GREENWAY DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY

TOWNSHIP

BUSHKILL CREEK

Zucksville Rd.

Arndt Rd.

Stocker Mill Rd.

Newlins Mill Rd.

Tatamy Rd.

Bushkill Dr.

BushkillDr.

Northwood Ave.

Hydrology

SOILS AND ERODIBILITY

Some areas within the Greenway may be more susceptible to soil loss due to the soil type. Soils with high erodibility are generally located along Bushkill and Schoeneck Creek.

Bank erosion at Penn’s Grant Open Space along Schoeneck Creek is a challenge for water quality, sedimentation, and ecological health. Bank erosion and sedimentation, with at least two massive tree falls across the stream, impede water flow. Because the water is shallow along the creek, this causes backup and flooding, which exacerbates soil erosion. Hydrology and water quality are a grave concern.

Palmer Township is taking several actions to address erosion and environmental issues related to Schoeneck Creek, primarily through the Fox Run Park & Open Space – Schoeneck Creek Restoration Project. This initiative aims to improve water quality, enhance the ecosystem, and manage stormwater runoff.

Key Terms:

• Erosion: The loosening and removal by wind and/or water of soil and/or rock from its location

• Easily erodible: Soils having an erodibility factor (K) > 0.37; this factor is used to estimate annual soil loss [2]

Soil Characteristics

• Soils throughout the drainage area include loam, silt loam, sandy loam, gravelly loam, rock outcrop, and urban fill.

• Soils that are easily erodible are located along the streams.

Planning Considerations:

• Areas with high erodibility should be prioritized for stream bank stabilization projects.

• Creation of steep slopes in these areas should be avoided where possible.

Soils key:

• CAB : Califon loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

• CLA: Clarksburg silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

• CLB: Clarksburg silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

• CPA: Comly silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

• DAA: Delaware fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

• GND: Gladstone-Parker gravelly loams, 15 to 25 percent slopes

• HO: Holly silt loam

• MB: Middlebury silt loam

• PQ: Pits, quarry

• RYB: Ryder-Duffield silt loams, 3 to 8 percent slopes

• RZF: Ryder-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 75 percent slopes

• UBB: Udorthents, limestone, 0 to 8 percent slopes

• UKAB: Urban land, 0 to 8 percent slopes

• UKB: Urban land, occasionally flooded

• UOB: Urban land, Duffield complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes

• UOD: Urban land, Duffield complex, 8 to 25 percent slopes

• UUDB: Urban land-Udorthents, limestone complex, 8 to 25 percent slopes

• W: Water

• WAB: Washington silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

• WAC: Washington silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes

• WAD: Washington silt loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes

High erosion observed along the Schoeneck Creek along Penn’s Grant Path

BUSHKILL CREEK CORRIDOR ANALYSIS

ERODIBLE SOILS

OBSERVED EROSION

CORRIDOR PARK BOUNDARIES

PALMER TOWNSHIP GREENWAY DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY HIGH ERODIBILITY WATERWAYS

Hydrology

SOIL INFILTRATION CONSTRAINTS

Palmer Township is underlain by carbonate rock, a type of rock susceptible to chemical weathering when exposed to groundwater. The weathering can lead to unstable surficial topography and sinkholes called Karst features. Within Palmer Township’s Greenway drainage area, there are 2,690 Karst features identified. While the majority of these features are not located directly adjacent to Bushkill Creek, some features are located within Corridor Parks including Keystone and Mill Race Parks.

Karst features can be an issue when introducing stormwater management infrastructure. When stormwater systems infiltrate, this can increase carbonate rock interaction with groundwater and cause new Karst features to develop. This is especially relevant in areas with shallow bedrock, such as Mill Race Park.

Bushkill Creek flows through an area of Karst geology near an active cement quarry in Stockertown. Public records2 over the past two decades document recurring sinkholes and streamflow losses within a two-mile reach of the creek. These conditions have at times coincided with groundwater pumping at the quarry, where water is removed from the active pit for operational purposes. Reported pump interruptions since 2002 have, in some instances, been associated with rapid stream level changes and documented fish mortality events, including one in 2020 estimated at approximately 2,000 fish.

Stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, community members, environmental organizations, and the quarry operator, have expressed differing views regarding the causes of these conditions. The operator has attributed them primarily to regional geology and natural Karst features, while others have raised questions about potential hydrologic influences. Sinkhole activity and streamflow management remain subject to ongoing monitoring and regulatory oversight. It should be noted that this Master Plan does not make findings regarding causation or liability and relies on publicly available information for planning context only.

Key Terms

• Carbonate Rock: Rock types that are susceptible to chemical weathering (dissolution) by groundwater; these are most commonly limestone and dolomite rock

• Karst Features: Terrain that results from the dissolution of carbonate rock

• Karst Process: Chemical weathering (dissolution) of carbonate rock

Constraints

• 2,690 Karst features identified in the Greenway Drainage Area

• Karst geology can impact where a stormwater system can be located and how it functions

• Areas with shallow bedrock have higher risk of Karst processes

• Areas closer to identified Karst features have higher risk of Karst processes

• The amount of runoff a stormwater system can capture is limited by carbonate rock

Planning Considerations

• The prevalence of Karst features and carbonate rock near the Greenway may require non-infiltrating practices.

• Per Township code, non-infiltrating practices must include multiple stormwater practices in series.

• If stormwater systems can infiltrate, the amount of runoff they can capture may be limited. This would require more stormwater systems to meet Township volume and rate reduction requirements.

BUSHKILL CREEK CORRIDOR ANALYSIS

- 45’

- 57’

- 68’

KARST LOCATION WITH 100FT BUFFER

CORRIDOR PARK BOUNDARIES

PALMER TOWNSHIP GREENWAY DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY

BUSHKILL CREEK

Zucksville

Hydrology FLOODING

Greenways are frequently subject to flooding, as storms cause water to over-top streambanks and inundate adjacent spaces and amenities. Bushkill Creek is no exception, with frequent flooding along the Greenway’s trails, parks, and connections.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) to delineate the risk of flooding along rivers and streams. Maps sourced from FIRM identify areas with 1% annual chance of flooding (100-year floodplains), 0.2% annual chance of flooding (500-year floodplains), and areas within the floodway, an area where high velocities would be expected during a flood event.

The planning team observed the Greenway after an intense rainfall event on May 16, 2025, during which approximately 0.9 inches of rainfall fell within 2 hours (according to the National Weather Service’s rainfall monitor). The heavy rainfall left several areas with standing water and was particularly visible at Penn Pump Park. Penn Pump Park is directly adjacent to the creek and within the 100-year floodplain. The topography of the park creates a ridgeline between the Creek and a localized depression, making it difficult for floodwaters and runoff to recede from this area. No stormwater infrastructure or topographic conveyance were visible.

When floods or heavy rains occur, connectivity through Bushkill Drive at Zucksville Road often becomes flooded, and sometimes impassable. With increasing development upland of this site, there are greater impervious surfaces and erosive runoff in this area. Through cooperation with Forks Township, the drainage at this intersection should be addressed to be in compliance with MS4 Regulations, preventing road oils, salts, debris, and sediment from entering the Bushkill at this point source.

Key Terms

• Base Flood Elevation: The elevation determined by FEMA to have a 1% chance of flooding at a specific location.

and the adjacent area needed to convey the base flood elevation

• 100-Year Floodplain: Properties mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having a 1% chance of flooding in any given year.

• 500-Year Floodplain: Properties mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having a 0.2% chance of flooding in any given year.

• Regulatory Flood Elevation: Elevation that impacts Township regulatory requirements for buildings in a floodplain (Base Flood Elevation + 18 inches)

Flood Risk on the Greenway:

• 7 Parks in a floodplain

• 71 Structures in the 100-Year Floodplain

• 110 Structures in 500-Year Floodplain

• 5,620 Linear feet of Trail in 100-Year Floodplain

• 12,385 Linear feet of Trail in 500-Year Floodplain

Resilient Planning Considerations

• Utilize Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines, developed by the Waterfront Alliance, as practices for implementation of public space improvements within the Greenway

• Ecological restoration, constructed wetlands or other Best Management Practices to be used depending on site conditions to help mitigate floods at a local level

• Look for opportunities to remove structures in the floodplain or adapt them to meet National Flood Insurance Program requirements

• Consider raising commercial/residential structure finished floors to 500-Year floodplain elevations, particularly where proposing new structures, to meet new ASCE 24 guidance

• Consider increasing flood storage along Greenway where space allows to reduce flood extents

• Consider flood-damage resistant materials in parks such as rot-resistant wood and low-carbon concrete

• Consider increasing size of culverts and/or elevating frequently flooded crossings

• Floodway: Channel of a river or other watercourse 1. FEMA mapping shapefiles were

BUSHKILL CREEK CORRIDOR ANALYSIS

BUSHKILL CREEK

100 YEAR FLOOD

500 YEAR FLOOD

EXISTING TRAILS

PROPOSED TRAILS

PROPOSED BIKE TRAILS

IMPACTED STRUCTURES (100 YR FLOOD)

IMPACTED STRUCTURES (500 YR FLOOD)

BUSHKILL CORRIDOR PARKS

PALMER TOWNSHIP PARKS

PALMER TOWNSHIP GREENWAY DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY

CREEK

Stocker Mill Rd.

Hydrology

PROJECTED FLOODING

Climate change is predicted to cause greater volume and intensity of rainfall events, causing an increase in the extents and frequency of flooding. In order to make future improvements adaptive and resilient to the projected effects of climate change, projection models can be used to study the extents of increased flooding.

One projection model is based on Delta Change Factors, a percentage increase in runoff anticipated based on emissions scenarios. The Philadelphia Water Department has used this projection model to estimate future risks to critical assets along its waterways. The emissions scenario for 4.5 degrees Celsius of warming was used to estimate potential increases in flood extents along the Greenway.

This model is considered a more severe model for climate change impacts. Using data from the Flood Insurance Study for Northampton County (2014) and delta change factors for the Delaware - Mid Atlantic Coastal Region, the flood extents at various cross sections along the Greenway for the years 2050 and 2090 were compared to the FEMA FIRM flood extents. On average, the depth of flooding is anticipated to increase 4 inches by 2050 and 1 foot by 2090 across the Greenway.

However, due to the relatively steep slopes across the channel banks and floodplain along Bushkill Creek, this estimated rise is not likely to cause significant changes to the extent of flooding. While floodwaters may be deeper, they are unlikely to impact additional structures and properties within Palmer Township. Mill Race Park is an exception, where slopes are generally milder. These milder slopes mean that more runoff will cause a greater extent of flooding in Mill Race Park, likely impacting more of the park area.

• Delta Change Factor: A change factor or “delta” derived from general circulation models and the applied to observed data to create future climate scenarios

• Freeboard: A safety buffer expressed in feet added to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for purposes of floodplain management; it is a FEMA requirement for new or substantially improved structures in flood-prone areas, ensuring the lowest floor is elevated above the 1% annual chance flood level to account for unknown factors

Changes in Risk

Key Terms

• RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway)

8.5: Climate change model assuming 4.5 degree Celsius warming

• FEMA Flood Elevations: Flood elevations associated with the 100-year floodplain, as recorded on Map Panels1 and the Flood Insurance Study for Northampton County, dated 2014

• Using runoff delta change factors for the DelawareMid Atlantic Coastal Region, the estimated change in 100-year flood elevations was mapped for 2050 and 2090 projections along Bushkill Creek. 2

• Updated elevations south of Dam 4 at the Pigment Plant (see page 13 for location) were estimated based on the Hydrologic & Hydraulic Study conducted for the dams.3

• Due to the steep slopes along the Creek, it is unlikely that the extents of flooding will significantly

On average, the depth of flooding across the Bushkill Creek Greenway is anticipated to increase four inches by 2050 and one foot by 2090.

Penn Pump Park Floodplain Section

Mill Race Park Floodplain Section

increase for most of the Greenway.

• Exceptions are located where topography is less severe in areas along Mill Race Park.

Resilient Planning Considerations

• Parks and trails adjacent to the Bushkill Creek should anticipate increases to flood elevations and infrastructure should be planned accordingly.

• Additional freeboard should be considered for structures.

• Designing with flood-damage resistant materials outside of FEMA-mapped areas should be considered in anticipation of increased flooding.

1. FEMA Map Panel No. Include No. 42095C0278E, 42095C0259E, 42095C0276E, and 42095C0257E

2. Maimone, M. and Adams, T. (2023). “A practical method for estimating climate-related changes to riverine flood elevation and frequency.”

3. Princeton Hydro, LLC (2020). Bushkill Creek Dam Removal Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis and Infrastructure Protection.

Historic Flooding Events (top 10) for downstream Delaware River

60% OF THE TOP TEN MAJOR FLOOD EVENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 20 YEARS

Hydrology

WATER QUALITY

The quality of water within Bushkill Creek significantly impacts ecosystems and recreation along the Greenway. Water quality can be affected by a number of factors including point sources (direct stormwater and industrial discharges) and non-point sources (such as stormwater runoff and groundwater).

Through the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains a list of impaired waters. Impaired waters are a classification that means water bodies cannot support their designated uses due to pollutants. Schoeneck Creek is impaired for fish consumption, recreational use, and aquatic life. Upstream of the Schoeneck – Bushkill confluence, Bushkill Creek is impaired for both recreation and fish consumption. Downstream of the confluence, Bushkill Creek is impaired for fish consumption. At the southern municipal boundary between Palmer and Easton, the stream becomes impaired again for recreational use.

The aquatic life impairment is largely caused by flow modification. Flow modification can be impacted by direct discharges along the Creek, large amounts of impervious surfaces, stormwater management discharges, and a variety of other man-made interventions that disrupt the natural drainage patterns.

The recreational use impairment is driven by pathogens. Pathogens may make consumption and/or direct contact with the water unsafe for animals and/ or humans. The presence of pathogens may be driven by a number of sources including animal waste and leaking septic systems.

Impairments for fish consumption are frequently the result of mercury deposition in the drainage area. Mercury can be present in the air due to industrial activities. When deposition occurs, this mercury can be conveyed to water bodies and consumed by aquatic life such as fish. High levels of mercury in fish tissue can pose health risks for people consuming these fish.

Key Terms

• Impaired: A classification given to water bodies that cannot support their designated uses due to pollution and other factors

Water Quality

• 2,983 LF of stream is impaired for Aquatic Use (Cause: Flow Modification)1

• 46,056 LF of stream is impaired for Fish Consumption (Cause: Mercury)1

• 28,871 LF of stream is impaired for Recreational Use (Cause: Pathogens)1

• 1,034 acres of cropland are located within the drainage area; this is estimated to contribute 3.1 tons of nitrogen and 1.5 tons of phosphorus per year 2

Planning Considerations

• Stormwater systems should be located at least 100 feet from wells to protect well groundwater.

• Stormwater practices downslope of cropland should be chosen to maximize nutrient removal.

• Stormwater practices along impaired water ways should target known contaminants causing the impairments.

• The location of future stormwater discharges should be planned to mitigate the mixing of flows with other stormwater discharges that may exacerbate erosion.

Trout Streams

• Areas North and South of this portion of the Bushkill Creek are Class-A Trout Streams.3

1. Impairment information retrieved from Pa.gov 2024 Integrated Water Quality Report, Water Quality classifications are from the Federal Impaired Water List (303D)

2. Strouds Water Research Center’s Model My Watershed tool was used to estimate nutrient loading in the drainage area within Palmer Township.

3. https://pfbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=65a89f6592234019bdc5f095eaf5c6ac

BUSHKILL CREEK CORRIDOR ANALYSIS

WATER QUALITY

IMPAIRED FOR FISH CONSUMPTION

IMPAIRED FOR RECREATIONAL USE

IMPAIRED FOR AQUATIC LIFE

DISCHARGE POINTS

WELL LOCATIONS

100FT STORMWATER BUFFER

BUSHKILL CORRIDOR PARKS

PALMER TOWNSHIP PARKS

FARM & CROPLANDS

PALMER TOWNSHIP GREENWAY DRAINAGE AREA BOUNDARY

BUSHKILL CREEK

SCHOENECKCREEK

Zucksville Rd.

Arndt Rd.

Stocker Mill Rd.

Newlins Mill Rd.

Tatamy Rd.

Bushkill Dr. BushkillDr.

Northwood

Ecology

TREE CANOPY & HEAT RISK

In addition to flooding, climate change is also likely to increase the number of extreme heat days experienced in the Northeastern United States. In Pennsylvania, extreme heat is a period of heat and humidity with temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 2-3 days.1 The number of these days is expected to double by the year 2050, creating very hot, humid, and potentially droughted summers.

The intersection of highly impervious areas and low tree canopy cover was analyzed along the Bushkill Creek Greenway to identify areas where there may be increased vulnerability to extreme heat. The resulting map indicates a high heat vulnerability adjacent to Mill Race Park and Keystone Park, as well as the industrial area adjacent to Penn Pump Park.

The existing tree canopy within Palmer Township provides ecosystem services for the community. In addition to providing shade and habitat, tree canopy can also remove air pollutants and stormwater runoff. Tree canopy also enhances thermal comfort through evapotranspiration and shade. Highly developed areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and little tree canopy can exacerbate and hold heat.

Using estimates developed by iTree, the Greenway Drainage Area (extents shown on page 57) tree canopy within Palmer Township removes 861 lbs of carbon monoxide, 4,969 lbs of nitrogen dioxide, and 2,272 lbs of particulate matter (<2.5 microns) from the air each year. The trees also remove 41,600 gallons of stormwater runoff via evapotranspiration, 41,600 gallons via interception, and 55,466 gallons via transpiration each year. This reduction in runoff helps to mitigate flooding. Protecting and expanding the tree canopy can amplify these benefits. Planting of native trees in greater numbers will assist in prevention of erosion and sedimentation of the creek. 1.

3. Pa.gov

Planning Considerations:

Opportunities to expand tree canopy or add shade structures should be considered in areas with high heat risk. Areas include:

• Trails between potential acquisition sites at Stocker Mill Road and Penn Pump Park

• Area adjacent to Mill Race Park & Tot Lot

• Trails south of Binney & Smith Preserve

• Areas adjacent to Keystone Park

Annual Air Quality Benefits from Tree Canopy

Greenway Drainage Area within Palmer Township.

Annual Volume of Runoff

Removed by Tree Canopy

Greenway Drainage Area within Palmer Township.

TREE CANOPY

& HEAT RISK

BUSHKILL CORRIDOR PARKS

PALMER TOWNSHIP PARKS

The Greenway Drainage Area in Palmer Township includes approximately 955 acres of tree canopy1 and 1,022 acres of impervious surfaces4

BUSHKILL CREEK

Arndt Rd.

Stocker Mill Rd.

Activity & Facility Analysis Chapter 6

Recreational Resources

AMENITIES & PROGRAMMING

The Bushkill Creek Greenway links together recreational assets through the ecological spine of the creek and trail. While many of the parks within the Greenway are forested floodplain landscapes, some also have activation through recreation, sports, and community gathering places.

Recreational programming is concentrated at Mill Race Park, Keystone Park and Penn Pump Park, all of which have high levels of visitation throughout the year. Picnicking areas are the most well-represented category of recreational resource within the adjacent area, with the highest number of picnic tables offered at the low-lying Penn Pump Park.

This map identifies existing waterfowl habitat and designated public fishing access points. The goal is to strengthen both ecological function and public use, carefully designing improvements to avoid conflicts with sensitive waterfowl areas while incorporating ADA-accessible fishing locations to expand inclusive recreational access.

Keystone Park is an upland asset that is nearby the Bushkill Creek Greenway, but not physically adjacent due to its topography. The design team discussed the potential for this park to become part of a “managed retreat” of soccer fields at Mill Race Park, should they become unusable in coming decades. Due to the high water table, flooding, high presence of geese (and therefore exposure to pathogens and Avian Flu), hosting soccer at Mill Race Park has become increasingly difficult in recent years. It is also known that the flood impact could raise by up to one foot by the end of this century.

Keystone Park could offer soccer fields and amenities during flood events and mud season. The Township should continue to creatively explore all of its recreational capacity and coordinate with Palmer Township Athletic Association (PTAA) and the Easton Area School District.

Legend:

• Hiking / Walking Trails

• Play Areas

• Live Music

• Picnicking Areas

• Baseball Fields

• Basketball Courts

• Disc Golf Courses

• Football Fields

• Soccer / Multi-use Fields

• Tennis / Pickleball Courts

• Volleyball Courts

• Water Access Areas

• Waterfowl Areas

• Gray = Not Within Scope

Zucksville Rd.

Arndt Rd.

Stocker Mill Rd.

Newlins Mill Rd.

Tatamy Rd.

Bushkill Dr.

BushkillDr.

Northwood Ave.

Community Feedback

EXPERIENCES & AMENITIES

The Bushkill Creek Greenway is a beloved place where residents and visitors enjoy the lush, calming presence of the forested creek. The first community survey and engagement activities with residents helped to tell the story of how people use this community asset, and what they would like to see in order to improve its use.

Most visitors of the Greenway spend their time walking and biking on trails; observing wildlife, fishing, sitting near the creek, gathering with family and friends; and playing on the playgrounds. This is a range of active

Q4: How do you or members of your household currently spend time along the Bushkill Creek Greenway?

426 total responses (26 skipped)

All responses

Biking on trails

Fishing in the creek

Gathering with family & friends

Geocaching

Learning about creek ecology

Observing wildlife

Participating in trout stocking events

People-watching

Picnic or grilling

Playing on the playgrounds

Playing or watching baseball / softball

and passive activities, ranging from solo to communitybased. The master plan recommendations are intended to accommodate the needs of all, within an inclusive and accessible community Greenway.

Fitness loops were by far the most popular addition requested for sports- and fitness-focused recreation. Spectator seating was also highly requested, and the planning team learned through conversations with residents of many ages that shaded courts and fields would be much appreciated in summer months.

Playing or watching basketball

Playing or watching pickleball

Playing or watching soccer

Playing or watching tennis

Reading a book

Sitting near the creek

Sledding in the winter

Swimming or wading in the creek

I don’t use the Bushkill Creek Greenway

Other (please specify):

Many also commented on the need for accessible seating, since those with mobility challenges must currently park in the lot next to the fields and watch games from their cars, as there is no ADA pathway or field access.

Q8: To enhance sports & fitness, which recreational elements should be improved or added to the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose up to 3. 293 total responses (159 skipped)

All responses

Baseball / softball fields

Basketball courts

Fitness stations & walking loops

Gaga ball pits

Pickleball courts

Soccer fields

Spectator seating

Tennis courts

Volleyball courts

Other (please specify)

(29)

Community Feedback

EXPERIENCES & AMENITIES

The community expressed desires for a diversity of different programming to activate the Greenway and better meet users’ needs. Families seek more naturebased and seasonal activities for children, and want opportunities to learn more about the natural settings of the Greenway. Ecological education (trout, mussels, bird watching, etc.) was the top-ranking response to the question “To enhance visitation, which offerings should be added to the Bushkill Creek Greenway?” Related, a number of survey respondents and pop-up participants fondly remembered the partner programming that once existed between Trout Unlimited and Easton Area School District, and called for this programming to be renewed, offering young people the change to visit and become stewards of the Bushkill.

Foraging and tree/plant identification walks ranked second, with many mentioning Bushkill Stream Conservancy, Wildlands Conservancy, or Nurture Nature Center as potential programming leads or partners. The Palmer Township Shade Tree Commission would also be a good partner for this programming. Such walks could be held in any season and appeal to people of all ages.

Nature-based play ranked third in responses about enhancing visitation, and natural play has been adopted into the concept designs for the Greenway’s parks. The tactile experience of this kind of play fits within the forested and riparian settings of the watershed, and can be gradually phased in as playgrounds are replaced in coming years.

Outdoor gathering places and shade pavilions have also been infused within the concept designs, surrounded with floodplain improvements to frame these gathering places within the landscape. They can also offer places for informal talks or performances in partnership with local organizations.

Many of the requested elements are infused within the concept designs for the Greenway, providing a place for all to enjoy activation within this natural setting.

Q6: To enhance visitation, which offerings should be added to the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose up to 3. 396 total responses (56 skipped), Survey No. 1

All responses

Bike rentals

Ecological education (trout, mussels, bird-watching, etc.)

Fishing derbies or fishing lessons

Foraging & plant identification walks

Games (quoits, Frisbee golf, ping pong, etc.)

Play, adventure or zip line course

ADA accessible

Play, Sensory or tactile water/sand play

Stage for music performances

Yoga or Tai-Chi classes

The first community survey asked Palmer residents what organizations they would like to see participate in the programming of the Bushkill Creek Greenway. Many of these organizations (listed below) such as the Bushkill Stream Conservancy, Lafayette College, Trout Unlimited, and Wildlands Conservancy, already play a

role in the Greenway. Deepening these partnerships could create programming through enhanced training, talks, and events for families and kids, partnership with the Township. The other organizations listed should be considered for partnerships as implementation for enhanced programming takes place in coming years.

All responses: Organizations named & number of mentions

• Action Wheels Bike Shop (2)

• Animal Defenders Lehigh Valley (1)

• Arbor Day Foundation (1)

• Audubon Society (4)

• Banana Factory (1)

• Borough of Tatamy (1)

• Boy Scouts (2)

• Bushkill Stream Conservancy (14)

• CAT-Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (1)

• City of Easton (2)

• Delaware Riverkeeper Network (1)

• D&L Trail (1)

• Ducks Unlimited (1)

• Earth Stewards of Palmer (1)

• Easton Environmental Advisory Council (1)

• Edge Of The Woods Plant Nursery (1)

• Forks of the Delaware (2)

• Forks Township (3)

• Girl Scouts (3)

• Jacobsburg Environmental Center (1)

• Kellyn Foundation (1)

• Kettle Creek Environmental Center (1)

• Lafayette College (10)

• Lehigh Valley Kayak and Canoe Club (1)

• Lehigh Valley Watershed Coalition (1)

• Lenape / Delaware Tribes (1)

• Libraries (2)

• LVHN (2)

• MOMS Club of Easton (1)

• Northampton County (1)

• Northampton County Community College (2)

• Northampton County Conservation District (1)

• Nurture Nature Center (23)

• Palmer BIP (1)

• Palmer Environmental Steering Committee (1)

• Penn State University (including Penn State Extension) (2)

• ProJeCt of Easton (1)

• ReWild Outdoors (1)

• Schools / School District (4)

• Shanthi Project (1)

• Sierra Club (3)

• State Theatre (1)

• St. Luke’s (1)

• The Valley Om (1)

• Trout Unlimited (29)

• Valley Mountain Bikers (2)

• West Ward Community Initiative (1)

• West Ward Market (1)

• Wildlands Conservancy (14)

• YMCA (1)

Play Richness Analysis

MAPPING EXISTING PLAY OPTIONS

Play is the work of children, and is also an invitation for adults to connect with our own inner children. Inclusive playgrounds invite people of all ages and abilities to engage, and provide a range of experiences.

The map at right is an assessment of the diversity of different kinds of play along the Bushkill, and this page provides and overview of how these different types can meet an array of physical, cognitive, and developmental needs for people of all ages and abilities.

Playgrounds within the Greenway should strive to represent a diversity of play types, in settings that are appropriate. Not every park needs to include each category, but should strive to offer a mix of at least two to three types of play.

Given the nature-based setting of the Greenway, the introduction of nature play that emphasizes organic materials would be appropriate, and would respond to many residents’ request for this kind of play. Nature Play is outlined further in Chapter 8, “Design Process & Recommendations.”

Climbing / Balancing Play

• Develops sense of balance

• Consideration, cooperation and turn-taking skills

• Trains motor skills and builds bone density

• Develops courage and self-regulation to be up high

Fitness & Adult Play

• Builds strength outdoors

• Improve heart health

• Improve cognitive and motor function into older age

Sensory / Exploration Play

• Sensory stimulation

• Imagination and role playing

• Fosters communication & learning

• Inclusive (for those with physical and mental disabilities)

Sliding Play

• Develops spatial awareness and sense of balance with new experience of space, speed and distances

• Trains core muscles

• Invites socialization

Spinning / Rotating Play

• Spinning is a crucial component of child development

• Develops key gross motor skills like balance and strength

Sensory stimulation

• Can develop social skills (cooperation to keep something spinning)

Sports & Competitive Play

• Fosters teamwork

• Improves coordination and motor skills

Swinging Play

• Trains balance, coordination & spatial awareness

• Trains muscles & strengthens bone density

• Parallel play invites cooperation and consideration

• Develops cause and effect thinking skills, rules games, rhythm

Water Play

• Develops cooperation, turn-taking and communication

• Supports logical thinking (cause and effect)

• Supports creativity, changing water flows

• Running and jumping develops motor skills

Mill Race Tot Lot

PLAY RICHNESS

Play Area @ Mill Race Park

Hillcrest Tot Lot

Chapter 7 Design Considerations

Climate Change & Conservation

COMMUNITY MANDATE

Community Mandate for Climate Change Adaptability

Q10: How important is it to you for Palmer Township to invest in ecological restoration and conservation of natural lands?

398 total responses (54 skipped), Survey #1

All responses

Very Important

Somewhat Important

(83)

Not at All Important

(13)

(302)

Q11: How important is it to you for Palmer Township to plan for potential impacts of climate change (such as flooding, habitat loss, extreme heat, etc)?

397 total responses (55 skipped), Survey #1

All responses

Very Important

Somewhat Important

Not at All Important

(34)

Climate Change Projections

Year Long Precipitation

Cold Hardiness Zone2

In PA, over the past 110 years the temperature has increased by 1.8° F. 3

5.9°F (3.3°C) increase 4 in average annual temperature statewide by 2050

9.4°F (4.6°C) increase 4 by 2100 Average Temperature1

In PA, over the past 110 years there has been a 10% increase in the amount of precipitation on average. 3

By 2050, we can expect an additional 8% increase 3 (47 annual inches) in precipitation.

By 2100, we can expect an additional 12% increase 4 (49

Plant hardiness zones shifting north at a rate of around 13 miles per decade based on the average of 20 different predictive climate models.

Northampton County is currently in zone 6A and 6B - Predicted to shift into zones 7A and 7B by 2070.

More than three-quarters of Palmer Township residents who responded to the survey expressed the importance of ecological restoration and conservation, as well as planning for the potential impacts of climate change. This community sentiment is a mandate for change along the Bushkill Greenway that supports the key goals and recommendations of this master plan. Through incremental implementation, the Bushkill Creek Greenway can achieve greater resiliency in the face of increasing floods, droughts, invasive species pressure, and threats to the urban tree canopy. The Bushkill Creek is a beloved community asset, and will only continue to be so if it is fostered and protected.

What will Palmer be like in 2100?

By the end of this century, Palmer Township will likely be a more densely developed, climate-adapted suburb shaped by continued regional growth and environmental change. Today’s population of about 22,600 could expand significantly—building on projections that already anticipate roughly 8,016 additional residents by mid-century—bringing more housing, mixed-use development, and pressure on infrastructure.

As part of the fast-growing Lehigh Valley, which is expected to add tens of thousands of residents, Palmer will likely become more urbanized and connected, with greater demand for transit, open space, and resilient design. At the same time, climate change will reshape daily life with more intense storms, flooding, and heat events. These projected environmental impacts for 2100 include:

• Increased Population: The population could reach 40,000-40,500 residents by 2100, using the 37.44% growth rate from the LVPC DataLV5 projections.

• Increased Precipitation: We can expect an additional 12% increase 4 (49 annual inches) in precipitation. We can also expect more extreme precipitation events, with a 32% increase8 in the average annual number of days with precipitation greater than one inch, equaling 11 days.

• Hotter Weather: We can expect an average 9.4°F increase4 by 2100. The number of days above 90°F will increase7 by 420% to 65 days (Current days over 90°F are 15-16).

• Increased Droughts: There will be a an 11% increase in the longest stretch of days10 without precipitation.

• Shifting USDA Planting zones: By the end of the century, many U.S. cities may have climates resembling locations 400+ miles to their south. This would mean that Palmer Township’s climate, and the plants and crops that thrive within it, will be comparable to Raleigh, North Carolina and the Piedmont bioregion. Crops will become more vulnerable to pests and invasive species as warmer weather, producing lower yields and encouraging more use of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides (in non-organic farming).

• Reduced Air Quality: Northampton County suffers from some of the worst air quality in the U.S. due to heavy industrial activity, dense transportation corridors, and topographic factors that trap pollutants. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are expected to worsen air quality by increasing ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, which can harm cardiovascular and respiratory health.

1. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/3/034001/ pdf

2. https://www.vox.com/a/weather-climate-change-us-cities-globalwarming

3. https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/climate/Pages/default.aspx#:~:text=In%20Pennsylvania%2C%20our%20climate%20has,amount%20 of%20precipitation%2C%20on%20average

4. https://ecoadapt.org/data/documents/EcoAdapt_NaturalLands_ClimateImpactsOverview_Nov2022_FINAL.pdf

5. https://lvpc.org/datalv

6. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/shifting-cities-2025

7. https://www.midatlanticrisa.org/data-tools/climate-data-tools/ extreme-temperature-projections-loca2.html

8. https://www.midatlanticrisa.org/data-tools/climate-data-tools/ extreme-precipitation-projections.html

9. https://www.marisa.psu.edu/outlooks/outlookhtml/PA/Northampton_County_PA.html

10. https://www.midatlanticrisa.org/data-tools/climate-data-tools/ longest-stretch-of-dry-days.html

11. https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/sites/static/files/2015-06/ documents/airquality.pdf

Climate Action

OVERALL APPROACH

The recommendations within this master plan enhance places for people and nature, where both benefit. Design strategies weave together connection, activity, ecology, hydrology, and history. By strengthening healthy ecologies and also strengthening places for people, there is a clarity of use and maintenance that will allow the lush landscape of the Bushkill Creek Greenway to thrive.

Supercharge ecological restoration to enhance habitat, water quality flood mitigation, while at the same time supercharging spaces for people along the Creek for recreation.

Anatomy of a Greenway

Riparian buffer

Upland forest & understory Forested Riparian buffer

Riparian forests shade & cool water

Root-stabilized stream bank

Woody debris log jam

Riffles Point bar & alluvial deposit

Thalweg (lowest point of stream)

Pools

Terrace

Cut bank

Stream access

Shaded pools provide optimal fish habitat

Planting within the riparian landscape enhances infiltration as well as water quality for stormwater runoff

CLIMATE ACTION

PLAN

GOALS & MONITORING

Palmer Township Climate Action Goals

The Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan supports the goals of the Palmer Township Climate Action Plan by prioritizing landscape strategies that strengthen climate resilience, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance community access to nature. The plan emphasizes restoration of riparian buffers along Bushkill Creek, expansion of tree canopy, and the conversion of mowed lawn areas to native meadows and naturalized landscapes. These approaches help capture and filter stormwater, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and sequester carbon while also lowering long-term maintenance and emissions associated with mowing. The parks will be designed to flood with flood-damage resistant materials, positive drainage, and elevated structures and pathways. The Greenway can serve as both a social and physical refuge during climate hazards, offering spaces for community gathering and cooling during extreme heat events.

By protecting wetlands, improving habitat connectivity, and expanding walking and biking access along the greenway, the plan advances both ecological health and low-carbon recreation opportunities consistent with the Township’s climate and sustainability goals.

This master plan meets a number of the goals and objectives from the 2024 PalmerTownship Climate Action Plan, including:

• Community engagement: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Government Transparency

• Construction and Completion of Riparian Buffers to Mitigate Flooding

• Address Sustainability in repairing aging infrastructure

• Explore Urban Forestry Practices Near Center of Town and Industrial Park

• Expand Efficiency Standards for All New Construction

• Make Sustainability Project Data and Progress Publicly Available

• Integrate Social Justice Best Practices in Policies, Plans, and Programs

Bushkill Creek Monitoring

The Bushkill Creek Conservancy, in partnership with Lafayette College, Trout Unlimited, and Wildlands Conservancy, have multi-year data that tracks the health of the Bushkill Creek.

Monitoring of Bushkill Creek is conducted monthly at 26 locations with data on nitrates, phosphates, alkalinity, pH, dissolved O2, and conductivity. This data can be used to understand the impacts of the various factors along the Bushkill Creek, and should continue to monitor change from climate factors.

Upstream Policy Impacting the Creek

One of the most impactful things the Township can do for the health of the Bushkill Creek has nothing to do with the Greenway itself: it starts upstream, before a drop of stormwater ever reaches the creek.

• Promote & incentive Regenerative Farming: What happens across the broader landscape, especially in agricultural systems, directly shapes water quality, flooding, and ecosystem health. Regenerative organic farming offers a powerful approach by rebuilding soil carbon, restoring soil biology, and reducing erosion and nutrient loss. Research from the Rodale Institute, including its long-running Farming Systems Trial1, shows that these systems can produce higher yields during extreme weather while operating at lower costs than conventional methods. When soils are healthier and more absorbent, they hold more water—reducing flash flooding, limiting polluted runoff, and improving conditions along creeks and riparian edges. More broadly, regenerative practices help create connected ecological systems that support biodiversity and reduce stress on fragmented landscapes.

• Reduce Non-Pervious Cover: Through code, incentivization and design review, the use of non-pervious paving and roofs should be reduced when possible. Where infiltration is more challenging due to Karst geology, focus on tree and perennial buffers to absorb upstream water.

Hydrology & Ecology

RESTORATION & CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

A number of different design strategies are embedded within the concept designs for parks of the Bushkill Creek Greenway, as well as along the length of its trails. Through incremental implementation, the strategies address some of these key threats to the Bushkill that will increase with progressed climate change:

Dam Removals

All dams downstream of Penn Pump Park (Dam No. 6) have been removed or are scheduled for removal by the end of 2026. Dams restrict fish passage, so their removal will allow aquatic species— such as shad, trout, American eel, and freshwater mussels—to once again inhabit the creek. A primary goal of dam removal on the Bushkill is to restore connectivity within the creek, through the Delaware River, and ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean.

Within the study area there is one dam (Dam #7) called Stocker’s Mill Dam, that should be considered for removal in the long-term. Half is owned by the Township and the other half is privately held; the owner does not intend to remove the dam at this time.

There are also a series of smaller low-head dams along Schoeneck Creek that should be removed over time to bring greater fish connectivity and flood capacity along Penn’s Grant Path. All of these removals will create a freeflowing Bushkill Creek.

• Flooding and water quality challenges, including sedimentation, pollution, acidification, E. coli and avian flu, etc.

• Unpredictable water flows—especially during drought—reduce the formation and

Aquatic Restoration

Freshwater mussels naturally improve water quality by filtering out algae and organic debris from the creek. They rely on freshwater fish for dispersal, so dam removal helps support the replenishment of mussel populations. Although mussels are currently absent from the Bushkill, recent reintroduction efforts have failed due to heavy recreational use of the waterway during the summer months. With increased education, targeted programming, and clear interpretive signage, future restoration efforts could have a much greater chance of success.

Drainage & Culvert Repair

In many places along the greenway trail, runoff entering the Creek appears to have eroded the edges of existing asphalt. The Township may consider alternative edging for future trail improvements such as concrete curbing or gravel to reduce pavement deterioration.

Increased culvert sizes and utilizing rip rap adjacent to culverts may also reduce the amount of runoff flowing over trails, thereby reducing erosion. Up-sizing culverts would also reduce the amount of debris and siltation along trails that are conveyed by runoff. This could reduce cleanup and maintenance along the trail after rainfall events. In some locations where standing water is observed on the upslope side of the trail, new culverts or additional fill may be considered to create positive drainage across the trail. New and repaired trails should be graded to slope towards the Creek, rather than shedding runoff in both directions.

persistence of deep pools that provide critical fish habitat and help cool the stream. As flows decline, these pools shrink or disappear, which can lead to fish kills and reduce connectivity along the creek.

Upland Flood Storage

The addition of flood storage along the Greenway can be introduced in upland conditions. These improvements, such as rain gardens, infiltration basins, and even forested zones, would allow for rain water to be captured, cleansed, and potentially recharged into the water table. In areas where Karst geology is a risk, these upland flood storage areas and rain gardens can be lined; this storage acts to delay runoff from entering the creek and exacerbating flooding.

Additional storage can be created through excavated areas along the Creek. This flood storage may also be used to offset any proposed fill for adjacent public park improvements made within the Greenway.

• Lack of connectivity for ecological systems and planting habitat, including dams, invasive plants displacing native plants (that provide ecological function)

• Soil erosion, sinkholes, and damaged buildings

Update H&H Studies

Changes within the Greenway’s drainage area, such as dam removal, development along the creek, and stormwater management infrastructure, may have already altered the extent of flooding shown in FEMA FIRM maps.

A new hydrologic and hydraulic study of the entire Greenway could provide clarity on the current probability of flooding and inform future development decisions and permitting requirements. Some of this work is currently being done by Lafayette College students with professors Brandeis, Germanowski, and Rothenberger. Their ongoing research, in partnership with Bushkill Stream Conservancy and Wildlands Conservancy, has developed profiles for flood conditions before and after dam removal.

After removal of Dam No. 6 in the future, this information should be coordinated to update maps from FEMA FIRMs, providing the Township with new information about floodplain insurance and risks.

Karst Geology

When developing in areas with carbonate rock and Karst features, Township requirements for stormwater management infiltration should be met. These may result in more extensive stormwater management systems in order to provide treatment with limited or no ground infiltration. Constructing new site elements within these areas can also require more extensive foundations to ensure stable conditions.

If infiltration is allowed, placing stormwater management features on soils with high infiltration will be the most cost-effective approach. Impervious surfaces should be located on soils with poor infiltration (D soils) wherever possible as this will have the least impact on existing drainage patterns.

Areas with high soil erodibility should be stabilized where feasible with vegetation and bioengineering stabilization methods. Stabilizing these areas can improve water quality.

Hydrology & Ecology

RESTORATION & CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

Flood DamageResistant Materials

When improvements within the floodplain are required to maintain usable open space, recreation, and multimodal transportation networks, flood damage-resistant materials should be used. Flood damage resistant materials are outlined in FEMA Technical Bulletin 2: Flood DamageResistant Materials Requirements. For exterior improvements, materials like rot-resistant woods and concrete provide durable and decay-resistant surfaces. When setting elevations, all designs should use Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines recommendations.

These materials should be considered for all park and trail improvements, as well as adjacent structures that fall within the 500year floodplain. Since updated design guidance includes flood events greater than the 750-year return interval, these durable materials should also be utilized in public spaces adjacent to existing floodplains of the Bushkill Creek Greenway.

Sediment Reduction

While eliminating impairments within the Bushkill and Schoeneck Creeks may require watershed scale efforts, Palmer Township can take targeted actions to improve water quality.

To mitigate the impacts of flow modification on aquatic life, the Township may continue to stabilize banks and uphill land with vegetation and bio-engineering strategies and conversion of impervious cover to open space. This could include the creation of crib logs or live staking to help stabilize erodible soils and prevent sediment from reaching these creeks.

At the time of this report, there are ongoing stabilization and sediment control plans for Schoeneck Creek to reduce sediment loads by approximately 69,000 pounds annually, aimed at meeting MS4 permit requirements. Key initiatives include the future Fox Run improvements with streambank stabilization and native plantings to manage stormwater runoff.

Water Cleansing

Specific green stormwater infrastructure, such as bioretention systems, have been shown to effectively remove pathogens.

However, the use of infiltrating practices such as this may be limited by the presence of Karst topography. The Township’s ordinances specify when infiltration practices can be used based on geologic conditions.

Source control, such as geese management, is another effective strategy for reducing pathogens. The conversion of lawn to meadow and riparian buffer can also reduce geese presence along the Greenway, which can reduce the amount of animal waste and pathogens entering the Creek.

To address impairments related to fish consumption, the Township can continue to enforce catch and release requirements and provide related educational signage along the Greenway

Channel Modifications

In cases where stream channels are experiencing severe erosion, exposing roots and creating unstable conditions, the Township may consider channel modifications and regenerative stream conveyance to reduce erosive forces.

There are also areas where deadfall (dead trees) has taken place along the channels. If there is no harm to human health or safety, it should be left in place, as it enhanced habitat for fish and invertebrates. Leaves, twigs, and sticks can eventually build around the deadfall and act as a filtrating and damming mechanism within the natural course of the stream. This can also support goals for sedimentation reduction, as sediments accumulate upstream of the deadfall formations.

Native Plant Habitat

Restoration of the Greenway will require management of invasive species, which are easily established in eroded soils, and carried by wind and water along the stream valley. Restorative planting will introduce species native to the US, and better yet specific to the North Appalachian Piedmont bio-region.

Where possible, planting should introduce keystone species to better support habitat. A keystone plant is a native plant species that holds an ecosystem together, supporting the highest number and diversity of insects, birds, and other wildlife. Keystone trees (primarily oaks, willows, cherries, and birches) support a disproportionately high number of insects, particularly caterpillars, which are essential for food webs. Roughly 5% of native plants support 75% of caterpillar species, making them trees crucial for sustaining bird populations.

1. Source: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Why-Native/Keystone-Plants-by-Ecoregion

2. Terrestrial & Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania, by Jean Fike (1999)

Floodplain Habitats

The replanting of the banks of the Bushkill and Schoeneck Creeks can restore habitat to a condition that better supports its life-giving function while adapting to climate change.

Buffers help to absorb, cleanse and filter water while minimizing erosion and sedimentation. Forested buffers also provide shade for streams to keep water cool in hotter months; which is good for humans, too.

The bigger the buffer, the larger the benefit. The PA State Department of Environmental Protection buffer design recommendations2 vary depending upon the water quality designation of the waterway. Outside of these code requirements, best planning practices recommend a minimum of 35 feet in width (as dictated by the Department of Fish and Wildlfe3), and an ideal maximum of 150 feet in width, as the site allows.

3. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under 25 Pa. Code § 102.14

4. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/conservation/habitat-management/ riparian-buffer-guidelines

Hydrology FUTURE PERMITTING NEEDS

Buildings in the Floodplain

As Palmer Township looks to make improvements along the Bushkill Creek Greenway, current flood regulations and design standards should be utilized, including Palmer Township Ordinances and recently released technical guidance in ASCE 24-24 Flood Resistant Design and Construction.

Palmer Township Ordinances include regulations for development in a floodplain. For new non-residential buildings, or those undergoing renovations costing over 50% of the value of the building, the building’s finished floor must be set at or above the regulatory flood elevation or the structure must be designed to be impermeable below the regulatory flood elevation. In Palmer, the regulatory flood elevation is 18 inches above FEMA’s base flood elevation (100-year flood elevation).

ASCE 24 is a document included in various codes including the International Building Code (IBC 2018). IBC 2018 currently incorporates ASCE 24-14 (2014) but may include ASCE 24-24 (2025) in future code updates. These standards have more stringent elevation requirements than current Palmer Ordinances for some structures, including recreation buildings and community centers.

If the Township chooses to develop or significantly improve any of these structures along the Greenway, the finished floor elevations of these buildings should reference the latest requirements and recommended design standards.

Stormwater Permitting

Palmer Township provides standards for stormwater management design in Chapter 158 of their ordinances. Certain small projects may be exempt from the stormwater permitting process if they disturb less than 5,000 square feet, have less than 1,000 square feet of land alteration that may affect runoff, and propose less than 1,000 square feet of impervious surfaces. This exemption from permitting is unlikely to apply to the larger improvements at parks, but may permit certain activities at target locations along the Greenway such as replacement of existing facilities and repair and replacement of trail sections.

Major stormwater permits are required for projects that will alter or develop more than 5,000 square feet of land, cause more than one acre of disturbance, increase impervious surfaces by 5,000 square feet or more, or include developments on sites with over 5,000 square feet of impervious that are not managed by existing stormwater and are not exempt from permitting.

For regulated activities proposing earth disturbances of greater than or equal to 5,000 square feet, submission of an erosion and sediment control plan to the Northampton County Conservation District (reviewing authority) for adequacy review shall be required at the sole discretion of the Municipal Engineer.

For regulated activities proposing earth disturbances of greater than or equal to 43,560 square feet (one acre), submission of an erosion and sediment control plan to the county conservation district/reviewing authority for

NPDES permit approval shall be required. Subsequent evidence of approval shall also be required.

If a project is not exempt from stormwater permits but does not meet the threshold for a major stormwater permit, a minor stormwater permit will be required. These permits are issued by Palmer Township and would not require state review.

In addition to meeting the volume, rate control, and water quality requirements for a stormwater permit, the stormwater systems must meet the Township requirements for placement and elevation of facilities. Facilities must be placed at certain distances from buildings and septic systems. They must also be placed at certain elevations relative to bedrock, groundwater, and the FEMA base flood elevation.

State Level Permitting

Based on proximity to the Bushkill Creek, most of the proposed park improvements may trigger state level permitting. The two most likely permitting paths are Chapter 105 Stream Encroachment permits and Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater permits.

Projects that are located within the floodplain of the Bushkill Creek may trigger a Chapter 105 permit requiring analysis of cut-fill placement, vegetation enhancements and removals, hydraulic and hydrologic analysis, and other floodplain impacts.

Chapter 102 Permits cover Erosion and Sediment Control and Post-Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM). Projects over one acre of disturbance individually or cumulatively require a NPDES permit.

An NPDES permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is a required authorization for discharging stormwater into surface waters, regulated under the federal Clean Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency. In Northampton County, the program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental

Protection (PA DEP) through the Northampton County Conservation District.

A NPDES permit is likely required for major park improvements along the Greenway. The state may also review whether a phased series of improvements at a park qualifies as a “common plan of development.” If the state reviewer considers improvements to be part of the same plan, projects that don’t individually require state permits may trigger the need for a NPDES permit when the cumulative improvements reach the permitting threshold of one acre.

State rules regarding General Permits for stormwater requirements are always evolving and every project should confirm the latest regulations which are in effect. For instance, recent changes to NPDES permits require more extensive monitoring and inspections during construction. Additionally, draft changes are pending for General permits for small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) that would provide volume management credit for implementation of stormwater management control measures in Environmental Justice areas. Overall, projects along the greenway which are located within the floodplain or are estimated to be over an acre in size should be prepared to pursue some level of state permitting. Each project should be evaluated and go through a PADEP pre-application meeting to confirm applicable permitting requirements.

Dam Removal Permitting

This permitting process for dam removals is detailed further in Chapter 8, “Design Process & Recommendations.”

Ecology

RESTORATION & CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

Described below are ecological considerations that should inform future recommendations related to restoration and climate adaptation. In addition to these strategies, Palmer Township should adopt policies that positively influence the watershed’s ecosystems, by incentivizing conversion to regenerative agriculture that reduced nutrient and pesticide runoff. Developers should also find ways to reduce impervious paving and/or adapt upland development with green roofs, meadows, rain gardens, and micro forests that improve conditions at the high points of the watershed.

Connecting Habitat

All forest blocks within the study area are each less than 100 acres, limiting habitat for interior forest species. Connecting forest blocks and improving forest composition and native understory growth throughout the Greenway could create habitat for interior species like yellow-throated warbler, cerulean warbler, hooded warbler, wood thrush, ovenbird, and scarlet tanager.

Diversification ff Habitat Types

Adding areas of native scrub/shrub habitat could create opportunities for species like willow flycatcher, brown thrasher, blue-winged warbler, yellow warbler, and yellowbreasted chat while also helping to stabilize eroded stream banks.

Restoring native meadow and/or grassland in mowed areas of open space creates habitat for species like eastern bluebird, bobolink, eastern meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, savannah sparrow, and American goldfinch.

Expanding and improving riparian corridors and native grassland would also provide habitat for declining species such as short-tailed and long-tailed weasels. Planting native understory fruiting shrubs and trees could provide food sources for species like cedar waxwing and many other songbirds.

Invasive Species Management

Woodland habitat in the Greenway is characterized by understory invasive species. The most prevalent species across the Greenway are non-native honeysuckle species, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, autumn olive, wild chervil, and mugwort. Invasive trees include Bradford pear, Norway maple, Ailanthus (which is a host for spotted lanternfly), and others. This, along with deer overpopulation, means there is little to no regeneration of native species in our native forests. If nothing is done to address this, our forests will continue to decline in ecological health, as both overstory and understory species are lost. Recommendations include:

• Facilitate regeneration of the forests in this area through different practices (fencing, reforestation, invasive species removal/ management).

• Work with volunteer groups to focus on removal of invasive plants, especially in spring and fall seasons.

• While removing any aggressively-spreading invasive plant is important, the highest priority is to manage the invasive vines species that climb trees and overtake the canopy. These will eventually kill the trees, so they carry

greater risk than understory invasive plants.

• Volunteers and others who remove invasive plantings (especially vines such as poison ivy) should wear protective gear, as many are poisonous or noxious.

Dead Ash Stands

Throughout their native range and in the Bushkill Creek Greenway, ash species have died off due to the presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Standing dead trees are present throughout the Greenway. This dead wood does provide great habitat for insects and woodpeckers (e.g. red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker). There are considerations for these blighted tree stands, with recommendations including:

• Thought should be given to areas of intersection with the trails in terms of public safety as trees begin to fall.

• This loss of ash is likely to change the character of woodlands along the Greenway and is an opportunity for targeted reforestation with high value native species. This also presents an opportunity for education about the impact of invasive species.

Waterfowl Areas

Waterfowl are an important part of the ecological community along creeks and wetlands and require healthy habitat to forage, rest, and nest. However,

large congregations of birds—particularly geese—can create challenges in parks and waterfront areas. Waterfowl tend to favor expansive open lawns adjacent to water, where they can easily see predators and move between feeding and resting areas. When these conditions are present, large flocks may gather, resulting in significant amounts of droppings that can contribute to elevated bacteria levels such as E. coli in nearby waterways and increase the risk of disease transmission, including avian influenza. Heavy concentrations of waterfowl can also degrade turf areas and reduce the usability of lawns for park visitors.

Ecological design strategies can help balance habitat needs with public use by reducing large expanses of open turf along the water’s edge and instead incorporating native meadow plantings, riparian buffers, shrubs, and taller vegetation. These plantings improve water quality, provide habitat for a wider range of wildlife, and create more visually diverse landscapes while discouraging large congregations of geese in areas heavily used by people. By shaping park landscapes in this way, ecological health and visitor experience can both be improved.

Mill Race Park & Tot Lot

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Mill Race Park is a large community park that provides access to Bushkill Creek and includes sports fields, picnic areas, a pavilion, bathrooms, trails, and areas of native vegetation. The park contains a mix of active recreation spaces and natural areas, including riparian buffers, meadows, wooded slopes, wetlands, and stormwater infrastructure that together support a diverse landscape for recreation and habitat.

Mill Race Park’s fields are maintained by the Palmer Township Athletic Association (PTAA). They utilize the fields for practice and soccer tournaments, where there can be 7000-8000 users in the park across a weekend. During these events, PTAA brings 12-5 portable toilets on site to support use.

The pickleball courts at Mill Race Park are in poor condition and are not oriented for solar comfort; in 2026 the Township plans to re-coat and renovate these courts.

In addition to the main park at Mill Race, a tot lot is located within the planned community of Mill Race Estates, and the parcel is owned by Palmer Township.

Ecology

A small spring-fed tributary flows through the northern portion of the park, supporting forested wetland conditions and contributing clean water to the creek. This area provides valuable habitat for wildlife and likely serves as a movement corridor for aquatic and terrestrial species.

Wooded slopes west of the main trail provide a scenic walking experience and contain notable rock formations. The woodland canopy includes box elder, oak, hackberry, and other species, with spicebush and honeysuckle present in the understory.

A substantial riparian buffer has been preserved along Bushkill Creek, providing valuable habitat for wildlife and helping protect water quality. Recent tree plantings and native wildflower installations by the Bushkill Creek Conservancy and Wildlands Conservancy have begun to establish more diverse vegetation in the buffer. However, several invasive species are present throughout the riparian corridor, including multiflora rose, wild chervil, mugwort, Japanese stiltgrass, Bradford pear, autumn olive, vine honeysuckle, and Japanese knotweed. Black locust is also forming dense stands in some areas.

Mill Race Park

Mill Race Tot Lot

Several meadow areas occur throughout the park but are dominated by aggressive species such as Canada goldenrod, mugwort, nimblewill, and crown vetch. Vegetation surveys conducted by Lafayette College indicate that species composition in some areas has shifted over time, with reduction in native diversity.

A naturalized stormwater basin in the southern portion of the park provides stormwater management and supports meadow vegetation, though invasive plants such as mugwort and purple loosestrife have become prevalent.

North of the primary recreation areas by the spring-fed tributary, the park transitions into high-quality wooded wetland habitat and a section of Bushkill Creek with riffle habitat. This area supports important wildlife habitat and includes a vernal pool used by amphibians and reptiles for breeding. The wetland forest is dominated by box elder and oak, with skunk cabbage common in wetter areas. Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, lesser celandine, wild chervil, privet, multiflora rose, and autumn olive are present within the wetland.

Forest typologies present1:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

• North-Central Appalachian Large River Floodplain

Size:

• Mill Race Park: 39.5 acres

• Mill Race Tot Lot: 0.5 acres

Amenities:

• 3 Soccer / Lacrosse Fields

• 5 Tennis / Pickleball Courts

• Fishing Access (Informal)

• 1 Pavilion and Picnic Area

• 2 Play Areas

• 1 Interpretive Sign

• 1 Bench

• 2 Public Restrooms

• 1 Water Fountain

• 13 Trash Receptacles

• Storage Shed

• Flagpole dedicated to coaches Gordon A. Evans and John R. Wunderly

Zoning:

• MDR: Medium Density Residential

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Recommendations From 2020 Parks Plan:

• “Considerations should be given to designating the park as a trailhead and providing bike amenities that would include a rest stop, bike station, jug filler, and bike racks.”

• “Repurpose open lawn by developing wildlife meadows to enhance sustainability efforts, especially at the park entries and along the creek. Also explore opportunities to transform / repurpose underutilized paved areas.”

ADA Concerns2:

• Mill Race Park: Only 1 van accessible space & 1 car accessible space out of 200 total spaces. Mill Race Tot Lot: No accessible spaces provided

• Currently no accessible routes to park amenities

• Current route to the pavilion is less than 36” wide and is not accessible

• Current route to the public restrooms has a slope of 12.6% and is not accessible

• Currently no accessible picnic tables or companion seating adjacent to benches

• Existing drinking fountain is not accessible

• No signage directing users to accessible areas

Source: *The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Gateway (https:// www.conservationgateway.org/Pages/default.aspx)

2. **Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL), Palmer Township Accessibility Report

Mill Race Park & Tot Lot

1 Soccer field after a heavy rain, 2019 Image courtesy of Dave Dumpel

Soccer Field after flooding at elevation ~296, 2020 Image courtesy of Dave Dumpel

Newlins Mill Rd.

Sledding

Bushkill Dr.

Penn's Grant Open Space EXISTING

CONDITIONS

Penn’s Grant Open Space is a diverse natural area within the Bushkill Creek Greenway that offers visitors opportunities to experience woodland, wetland, and stream environments. A well-developed trail system provides access throughout the property and allows visitors to explore a variety of habitats away from the more active portions of the Greenway.

Schoeneck Creek flows through the property before joining Bushkill Creek. Portions of the creek are channelized and include several small dams. Areas of streambank erosion are visible, particularly in the southwestern section of the property where incised banks and limited riparian vegetation occur beneath a power line right-of-way. Vegetation in this area includes wingstem, mugwort, and poison hemlock.

Additional features on the property include a stormwater channel that shows localized erosion near a trail intersection, open areas beneath the power line corridor dominated by invasive species, and sections of woodland that contain native understory plants such as eastern waterleaf. Educational signage is present along the trail network, though one sign is currently damaged.

Ecology

The southern portion of the property contains a large wetland dominated by phragmites. Native species such as woodland bulrush, wingstem, sycamore, and goldenrod occur along the wetland edges, though invasive plants including wild chervil, autumn olive, and multiflora rose are also present. Wet conditions extend north into adjacent woodlands where sycamore and ash are common in the canopy, with invasive olive, honeysuckle, and multiflora rose occurring in the understory.

Woodlands throughout the property are characterized by a large number of standing dead ash trees, likely resulting from emerald ash borer impacts. The remaining canopy includes walnut, hackberry, box elder, sycamore, spicebush, red and white oak, and beech. Invasive plants such as shrub honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and Japanese stiltgrass are widespread in the understory. Despite these pressures, the woodland supports wildlife including several songbird species such as sparrows, tufted titmice, cardinals, and robins.

1. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Gateway (https://www. conservationgateway.org/Pages/default.aspx)

Entry at Penn’s Grant Open Space

The mix of wetlands, forest, open corridor habitat, and stream environments provides habitat for a variety of wildlife and may support reptiles and amphibians in suitable upland and wetland areas across the property.

Forest typologies1 present:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

• North-Central Appalachian Large River Floodplain

• Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland

Size:

• 34.9 acres

Amenities:

• Fishing Access

• 2 Hiking / Walking Trails

• Birdwatching

Zoning:

• MDR: Medium Density Residential

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Schoeneck Creek at Penn’s Grant Path, which will soon connect to Fox Run Park and trail

Penn's Grant Open Space

The

and

Erosion of the steep slopes and stream beds adjacent to the trail are being addressed by the Township to improve water quality.

An easement for overhead power lines create an opening in the trail that could become a new type of native planting habitat.

Property Line

100-yr Flood

500-yr Flood

GPU

Easement

History

Connection

Activity

Ecology

Hydrology

Creek Access

Goose Use

site entry has a number of dead ash stands, some of which should be removed for public safety. Some should remain for bird habitat.

footprint of a historic mill still stands today,

smaller dams can be seen along the length of the Schoeneck Creek on Penn’s Grant Path.

+ 360'

Dead ash

Trailhead

No ADA trail access or parking

Tatamy Rd.

Good overstory, invasive understory

Existing seating at intersection of bike path and Schoeneck Creek

Erosion at bottom of steep swale. Lots of Virgina waterlead in this area (desirable native)

Invasive understory and lots of deadfall in stream

Healthy section of creek with many riffles & runs

Bridge access connection to Bushkill Drive

Dam #7 (Stocker Mill) owner by Palmer & a private owner

Trailhead for Penn's Grant Path

Trailhead connection to Fox Run trail and park

Bridge over Schoeneck Creek

Informal parking on Bushkill Drive

Schoeneck Creek dam structures

Kesslerville Rd.

Greenway Trail

Lewis Cir.

Keystone Park

EXISTING CONDITIONS

This small neighborhood park provides open space and recreation opportunities for nearby homes and a neighboring Tracy Elementary School. The park is primarily composed of sports fields and typical park amenities, including a parking area, pavilion, and an asphalt tennis court. The park also contains a paved recreational pad located east of the parking area and north of the soccer field for tennis use. These facilities support active recreation and community use, and are also contiguous with playgrounds and sports fields at Tracy Elementary.

The park entrance and signage are currently difficult to see from the road, making the park somewhat hard to locate for first-time visitors. Much of the park landscape is maintained as regularly mowed turf, including areas near the parking lot and pavilion as well as larger open areas surrounding the soccer field.

While not contiguous to the Greenway, this park was included in the study since it provides recreation amenities to these nearby neighborhoods, and is sometimes utilized when flooding at Mill Race Park prohibits use of the sports fields.

Size:

• 10.3 acres

Amenities:

• 1 Baseball Field

• 3 Soccer / Multi-use Fields

• 2 Volleyball Courts (with lighting)

• 1 Picnic Area

• 1 Pavilion

• 4 Benches

• 2 Public Restrooms

• 1 Water Fountain

• 1 Trash Receptacle

Amenities at Adjacent Tracy

Elementary:

• 2 Softball Fields (overlaid with youth Soccer)

• Children’s Play Area

Entry along Tatamy Road

Zoning:

• LDR: Low Density Residential

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Recommendations From 2020 Parks Plan:

• “Over-use and over-scheduling must be addressed in order to minimize costly repairs and lower ongoing maintenance costs.”

Forest Typologies1 Present:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Agricultural

ADA2 Concerns:

• Currently no accessible routes to park amenities

• Currently no accessible seating or equipment

• Currently no accessible water fountain

• Existing accessible parking spaces do not

meet width requirements, more accessible spaces are needed

• Currently no accessible restrooms

• Currently no signage for accessible routes

Existing Fields at Keystone Park

Keystone Park ANALYSIS

Existing entry signage blends into the neighborhood and could benefit from distinctive entryways that signal this is a public space.

Existing angled parking is inefficient and could benefit from increased shade and native planting.

A low point in the lawn area would easily become wetland if left unmanaged. Consider the potential for this to become a rain garden that has ecological value.

Property Line

100-yr Flood

500-yr Flood

GPU

Easement

History

Connection

Activity

Ecology

Hydrology

Goose Use

Outdated soccer longer used - pitch in steep

Low point would become wetland if left to succession

pitch is no in center is too

3 softball fields utilized by senior softball players league No screening from neighbors

+ 340' + 365'

Underutilized lawn space Wet runoff area

Potholes in field

Tracy Elementary School

One way exit/entry signage not very obvious

Pine Grove Dr.

Louise St.

TatamyRd.

Penn Pump Park

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Penn Pump Park is a well-used community park along Bushkill Creek that provides opportunities for fishing, picnicking, play, and nature observation. The park includes a playground, pavilion, picnic areas, open lawn space, and trail connections that link the site to the broader greenway and bikeway system.

The park is just below Walter’s Mill Dam, also known as Dam 6, which forms a small impoundment within the park. The structure shows signs of aging and deterioration, including cracking, erosion around the structure, and sediment accumulation behind the dam. The area around the dam is fenced, though evidence of informal access from the trail is present. The impoundment creates slow, wide water conditions upstream and limits aquatic connectivity along the creek. Evidence of past habitat improvements is present, including bird boxes and “no mow” signage, though some elements are currently in disrepair.

The park is located within the floodplain of Bushkill Creek, and flooding influences site conditions and materials. Gravel surfaces near the pavilion and surrounding areas are susceptible to washout during storm events, creating ongoing maintenance needs.

Access to the creek is available in several locations, particularly south of Northwood Avenue. Interpretive signage related to waterfowl and the life cycle of brown trout is present, though some signage and kiosk structures have deteriorated over time.

The parking lot of Penn Pump Park is one-way, which contributes to congestion along Northwood Avenue. This, along with visibility for pedestrians, is being addressed by the Township with bump-out curbs and flashing signals at the intersection of the bike path and Northwood Avenue.

At Penn Pump Park, overcrowding has become an ongoing challenge, particularly during the summer months. The dam and swimming access act as major magnets for visitors, drawing large numbers of people from the surrounding community and beyond. Even when parking is closed at Penn Pump, users park along Bushkill Drive where no sidewalks exist. This high visitation places stress on park infrastructure, increases maintenance demands, and creates safety concerns, especially around the dam and creek areas. The combination of concentrated activity and limited space can also negatively impact the park’s natural systems,

Dam No. 6 above Penn Pump Park, also known as Walter’s Mill dam

including riparian buffers and floodplain areas, as informal paths and recreational use disturb vegetation and compact soils. Managing this overcrowding is a persistent issue for the Township in balancing public use with ecological protection and visitor safety.

Ecology

Natural areas within the park include a mixed woodland at the southern end of the property between the trail and an open field. This woodland contains a combination of native species such as box elder, staghorn sumac, spicebush, wingstem, wild cucumber, sycamore, white pine, dogwood, and Ohio buckeye, along with invasive species including multiflora rose, Asian bittersweet, wild chervil, burning bush, burdock, and garlic mustard, primarily in the understory.

The riparian corridor along Bushkill Creek contains a largely native tree canopy—primarily sycamore, ash, white pine, black cherry, red oak, and box elder—while the understory is dominated by invasive species such as honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and wild chervil. Recent efforts to manage invasive plants and introduce new plantings within the buffer are visible.

Forest Typologies1 Present:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Agricultural

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

• North-Central Appalachian Large River Floodplain

• Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland

Size:

• 11.8 acres

• 1.3 acres (Adjacent Undeveloped Parcel)

Amenities:

• 1 (Former) Tee-Ball Field

• Fishing Access (Dam is used as a fishing/ swimming feature, though not allowed within

park rules)

• 3 Picnic Areas

• 1 Pavilion

• 1 Play Area

• 3 Benches

• 1 Interpretive Sign (Wild Brown Trout)

• 2 Public Restrooms

• 7 Trash Receptacles

Zoning:

• LI/MU: Light Industrial / Mixed Use

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Recommendations from 2020 Parks Plan:

• “Develop a management plan for this park to specifically address erosion, redefine use areas, creek access, flood mitigation and re-establish the bank and riparian buffer”

• “Develop a facility services plan to align visitor needs with restroom and pavilion use; implement applicable upgrades. Address ball field updates as applicable in context of overall demand and usage levels.”

ADA2 Concerns:

• Currently no accessible routes to park amenities

• Currently no accessible seating or equipment

• Currently no accessible water fountain

• Existing accessible parking spaces do not meet width requirements, more accessible spaces are needed

• Currently no accessible restrooms

• Currently no signage for accessible routes

1. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Gateway (https://www. conservationgateway.org/Pages/default.aspx)

2. Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL), Palmer Township Accessibility Report

Penn Pump Park

After rain (not even a flood), pools of water stand in Penn Pump Park, due to the high water table and soil compaction under the tree canopy.

Northampton County recently funded ADA access upgrades to the parking lot and trail, creating more connectivity to and within the park.

A baseball field is no longer used by leagues, and should be re-imagined. School bands still practices here, and the open lawn areas are used for recreation.

Property Line

100-yr Flood

500-yr Flood

Sewer

Easement

History

Connection Activity

Ecology

Hydrology

Creek Access

Goose Use

new ADA-accessible pathway and driveway were funded by a Northampton County Livable Landscapes grant.

Gravel consistently washes out along storm sewer easement access area 255'+

Flooding at bathrooms & points during heavy rain larger flood events)

GreenwayTrail

+ 255'

Dead end makes park feel unsafe & causes traffic to back up on Northwood Ave. at the bridge

Flooding at low points during heavy rain

Vehicle / bike traffic can block up traffic flow when busy, and pedestrian visibility & lighting is low

Dam 6 is a safety concern, alters water flow and erosion, impacts water quality, and disrupts fish movement

Overcrowding in summer because of dam & water access (and online listing)

Unsafe walking conditions from

Recently enhanced creek buffer

Baseball field used for band practice

Historic stone building with entry along Walter Ave

New ADA access to the bike path + 265'

Forks Township’s Lion's Park

Sewer Utility ROW

Central play

Bocce court

WalterAve.

NorthwoodAve.

Northwood Ave. Hill Rd.

Bushkill Dr.

Pine Grove Dr. High Point Ct.

Wildlands Conservancy’s Binney & Smith Preserve

EXISTING CONDITIONS

This 6.8-acre preserve is owned by Wildlands Conservancy and is situated at the southern end of the Greenway, between Forks Township and The City of Easton. Principally located in the floodplain of the main stem of the Bushkill Creek, the preserve offers fishing access for anglers and a streamside respite for others.

There are long-range plans to improve access to the property from the trail. No funding is secured, but the long-term goal is to provide ADA access to certain sections of stream and formalize a trail system.

Binney & Smith Preserve acts as a floodplain and riparian buffer to Bushkill Creek and offers habitat and important travel corridors for a variety of wildlife. Notable species include blue herons, bald eagles, and waterfowl. Parts of the property may be suitable for eastern hognose snake.

The property is largely forested, with 2 distinct age classes of trees, suggesting differing land use histories. The forested, streamside (riparian buffer) environment is populated by shagbark hickory, hawthorn, green ash, horse chestnut, tulip poplar, silver maple, red cedar and more. The vegetative growth along the riparian

buffer and floodplain benefits water quality by filtering and trapping pollutants. Their mighty roots stabilize soil, slow floodwaters, protect property downstream, and mitigate rainwater runoff. Flowering plants, such as Jack-in-the-Pulpit and swamp milkweed, along with several varieties of fern, also grow here.

Size:

• 6.8 acres

Spatial Character:

• Natural Area

Sports:

• Fishing Access (Informal)

Amenities:

• Habitat Restoration Areas

• 1 bench

Zoning:

• LI/MU: Light Industrial / Mixed Use

Dam No. 6 above Penn Pump Park

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Forest Typologies1 Present*:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

1. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Gateway (https://www. conservationgateway.org/Pages/default.aspx)

Wildlands Conservancy led removal of a dam immediately downstream from the property in 2021, and the stream continues to recover from the impacts of the former dam.

Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve ANALYSIS

The overstory is largely native but the understory is choked with Japanese stilt grass and other invasive species.

The preserve entry at the former Binney & Smith parking lot.

A new parking lot provides trailhead parking, with access to JG Mills apartments, Hackett Park, and Bushkill Drive. Trail parking area

Invasive Stiltgrass

Informal water access for anglers

Wide area along Bushkill Drive used by bikers

This area often mistaken for trailhead entry

Tatamy Creek Buxmont Academy

Dam #5 (Crayola) has been removed & stream restoration is underway

Catch & release area, to be utilized as parking by developer

On-road use for bikes / pedestrians

Unclear trail integration within paving

Trail lacks signage

Informal trail along creek - will be improved for connection to JG Mills apartments

EdgewoodAve.

Hackett Park (City of Easton)

Hillcrest Open Space & Morningside Tot Lot

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Hillcrest Open Space is a largely wooded property with limited public use. Contiguous to the open space, a tot lot is located within the planned community of Hillcrest Estates, and the parcel is owned by Palmer Township.

The lower areas and hillside are overgrown with invasive plants, making access difficult, and illegal dumping has been observed throughout the site. An intermittent tributary to Bushkill Creek flows through the property, receiving stormwater from nearby roads and developments. This has caused stream bank erosion in several areas, particularly downstream of four culverts on Hackett Avenue, where water exits with force during storm events. A lack of deep-rooted vegetation along the channel further contributes to instability and sedimentation.

Ecology

The forest is dominated by understory invasive species, including vine honeysuckle, multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle, Japanese stiltgrass, mugwort, wineberry, and privet, with native canopy species such as box elder, spicebush, and walnut present but limited. Numerous standing dead trees are also present throughout the property. Wildlife observed includes

songbirds such as white-throated sparrows, cardinals, robins, and northern flickers, as well as evidence of small and mid-sized mammals and deer movement.

The forested areas are likely used by raptors such as red-tailed hawks, and the site may provide habitat for herptiles such as wood frogs, northern ringneck snakes, eastern hognose snakes, and northern black racers. Blackflies (Simuliidae sp.) are prevalent in low-lying areas, particularly near rock-lined stormwater channels.

Forest Typologies1 Present:

• Urban/Suburban Built

• Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

Size:

• Hillcrest Open Space: 3.0 acres

• Hillcrest Tot Lot: 0.5 acres

Spatial Character:

• Hillcrest Open Space: Natural Area

• Hillcrest Tot Lot: Playground

Hillcrest Open Space

Amenities:

• 1 Play Area

• 1 Bench

• Signage

• 1 Trash Receptacle

• Potential Habitat Restoration Areas

Zoning:

• MDR: Medium Density Residential

• PRO: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Overlay

• RBO: Riparian Buffer Overlay

Recommendations from 2020 Parks Plan:

• “Define the park boundaries with fencing or shrubbery.”

• “Add a fence or barrier adjacent to the access drive.”

1. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Gateway (https://www. conservationgateway.org/Pages/default.aspx)

Morningside Tot Lot, which is accessible (only) from Morningside Drive

Hillcrest Open Space & Morningside Tot Lot

The trailhead and bridge at Forks Township is a link to the Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve.

south toward the Palmer Park Mall.

Tatamy Rd. GreenwayTrail

Bushkill Park

Bushkill Park (Forks Township)

Observed deer & groundburrowing habitat

No sidewalk

Tot Lot with play area, 2 benches

Dead ash stand

Erosion from intermittent tributary and hillside slopes

Dead ash & overgrown vines / invasive

Trash & dumping on site. Blackflies & mosquitoes are present

Culverts under driveway empties into Basin on Palmer Park Mall property

MorningsideDr.

Hackett

Design Process & Recommendations Chapter 8

The Vision

This chapter outlines conceptual designs for the Greenway trails, as well as for the individual parks. The existing trail alignment will remain unchanged, but there will be enhancements to its amenities and maintenance. The plan enhances trailheads and connections with parks and streets in order to enhance walkability. Parks are where a majority of accessibility, living systems, and amenities updates will occur, becoming destinations for play, gathering, and naturebased experiences along the length of the Greenway.

Overall Greenway trail improvements include:

• Plan, design, improve, and install safe pedestrian crossings and pathways; these connections should consider multiple plan goals, both within this plan and other studies such as the recommendations from the 2025 Palmer Township Active Transportation Plan

• Install new directional signage along the length of the trail, focused at crosswalks and trailhead

• Install or refresh interpretive signage for historic and ecological features

• Expand trailhead amenities, such as bike repair stations, seating, and water bottle refill stations

Park improvements are specific to each site, but the concepts embody the goals of the project:

• Communicate history through protecting historic elements, weaving in storytelling, and integrating interpretive elements that tell the store of this Greenway

• Connect amenities with ADA accessible pathways, granting access to all to these public assets

• Enhance activity while balancing the tranquil setting of the forested corridor

• Protect ecology and establish native habitat

• Create resilient hydrology through channel improvements, riparian buffers, infiltration, and in the case of Penn Pump Park, dam removal; the plan also considers the location of amenities (such as restrooms and play) outside of the floodplain, to protect Palmer’s investments and lessen maintenance burdens

Hillcrest Open Space & Tot Lot

Bushkill Park

Amenities

Trail amenities ensure a more pleasant experience for users, and provide safe and useful infrastructure so that people can extend their stay. There are a number of improvements included in the concepts that enhance the length of the Greenway. The most-requested amenities by respondents of the community survey were public restrooms and water-bottle refill stations, as well as signage and lighting.

Many amenities will be located within park improvements on the Greenway, leveraging community impact and keeping the experience of the trails simple. However, simple amenities like signage and additional seating adds comfort within stretches of the trail between the parks.

Public Restrooms

Restrooms should all be located outside of the 100year floodplain, and ideally also outside of the 500-year floodplain; in some cases, composting toilets that do not require a septic can be a great solution.

Inclusive design for restrooms should include ADA access, with standards defined by the US Access Board ADA Accessibility Standards as well as local code. Inclusion of baby and adult diaper changing stations accounts for families and people with disabilities.

Water Bottle Refill Stations

Located at parks along the Greenway, these stations help users to stay hydrated — especially in warm, summer months. These stations should be located outside of the 100-year floodplain (and ideally, the 500year floodplain as well). Locating these where existing water connections exist will also help lower costs.

Signage

Signage is critical to the wayfinding, branding, and navigation of the Greenway, and will help users of all languages to use the Greenway. The design approach integrates signs without overwhelming the naturebased experiences along the Greenway. See Chapter 11 for more information about signage and wayfinding recommendations.

Lighting

Lighting is not proposed within the Greenway and its parks, since these public spaces are open dawn to dusk. If lighting is installed in the future, it should utilize Dark Sky standards that minimize light pollution.

Dog-Friendly Spaces

Availability of dog-friendly spaces was expressed as a community desire, both in the survey and during pop-up discussions. While dogs are not allowed within Palmer Township parks, they are allowed on the Greenway trails, which have a number of dog waste / bag stations for public use. The locations of these is noted on the overall map on page 13, and an additional one is recommended for south of Wildlands Conservancy’s Binney & Smith Preserve.

Fence Repair

Erosion, as well as dense shade, has caused some of the wood fencing footings along the trail to rot and become unstable. The Township should replace posts with concrete piers that hold split-rail horizontal rails. This is a more durable and stable solution that keeps with the bucolic aesthetic of the Greenway.

Trail Counters

Trail counters are devices with infrared sensors that are placed along paths to measure, record, and analyze the number of pedestrians, cyclists, and other users. These devices, such as TRAFx counters, are used by park managers to understand usage patterns, track peak activity, and justify funding or maintenance. Palmer Township is working with the D&L and LINK Trail Network to install counters in three locations of the Greenway to better understand user volume; this will assist with future grant funding.

Security Cameras

Security cameras along the Greenway can play a strategic role in enhancing safety without undermining the character of the landscape. When thoughtfully located at trailheads, parking areas, road crossings, and outside of restrooms, cameras act as both a deterrent and an investigative tool in the event of

vandalism, theft, or personal safety incidents. Their presence can increase user confidence—particularly for families, seniors, and solo walkers—while supporting coordination with local law enforcement when needed.

To maintain the natural experience of the trail, cameras should be discreetly mounted, integrated with lighting where appropriate, and clearly accompanied by signage indicating active monitoring. The security cameras that have been included in the cost estimates are solar-powered trail cameras that are all-season and can be mounted to existing vertical elements along the trail. These kinds of trail cameras can also be a useful resource for viewing and identifying wildlife at nighttime, which could integrate with additional programming and education along the Greenway.

Additional Seating

There is seating along the Greenway, mostly within the public parks spaces. Additional seating should be installed on the trail, at locations shown in the concept plans. Seating is recommended at a minimum of every quarter mile, and should include design accommodations for ADA accessible companion seating.

Q7: To enhance amenities & safety,which elements should be improved or added to the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose up to 3.

396 total responses (56 skipped), Survey No. 1

All responses

Better safety & security measures

Bike repair stands and pumps

Dog-friendly spaces Grilling stations

Play & Fitness

Nature Play

“Nature Play” is a tactile type of play that allows children to interact directly with natural elements. Using elements like logs, boulders, native plantings, gentle landforms, and water features, these spaces encourage imaginative, unstructured play that evolves with the seasons. The play equipment is often made of American Black Locust, a hard wood that is vandalism and fireproof. When properly maintained, the equipment is sustainable and can last thirty to fifty years, which is four times longer than traditional metal/ plastic equipment (which typically lasts only 8-15 years).

Natural play along the Greenway creates destinations along the corridor while maintaining ecological integrity. Thoughtful design ensures durability, ADAaccessible connections, and clear sight lines for safety, while reinforcing the identity of the Greenway as both habitat and community space.

The play spaces within the Greenway integrate shade to have comfortable play spaces that are used even on the hottest of days. During community engagement, the planning team heard that the playground at Penn Pump Park is a popular place for families to come during heatwaves, since it is deeply shaded and there is usually a cool breeze from the Creek. If any play areas within the Greenway cannot integrate tree planting, shade can also be provided by shade sails, and could fit in with the natural setting of the Creek.

By integrating play into the landscape itself, the greenway becomes not just a route for movement, but a place for exploration, learning, and connection to nature.

Fitness Groves

“Fitness groves” are places located near nature play, but that offer equipment for movement intended for both kids and adults. They introduce small, nature-integrated exercise zones within parks, creating opportunities for strength training, stretching, and bodyweight workouts without the feel of a conventional gym.

These spaces can incorporate simple, durable elements

such as pull-up bars, balance beams, stepping logs, and low platforms for step-ups or incline exercises. Nestled within tree cover or native plantings, fitness groves offer shade, visual enclosure, and a sense of retreat while maintaining clear sight lines for safety.

Designed with accessible surfacing and instructional signage, they support users of varying ages and abilities, from casual walkers adding light activity to dedicated runners incorporating cross-training. By distributing these groves along the trail network, the greenway becomes an active wellness corridor, encouraging movement, social interaction, and everyday exercise within a natural setting.

Mill Race and Hillcrest/Morningside Tot Lots

Located within neighborhoods that are upland of the Bushkill Creek, these two tot lots have traditional play equipment and surrounding shade that is intended as a place for neighborhood kids to play. These tot lots are not used heavily, and are in good condition.

When the play equipment has reached the end of its life cycle, the Township should consider integrating Nature Play or Fitness Groves into these zones, as well as seating and ADA-accessible pathways. Shaded trees and native plants would be good additions for habitat and beauty, and will also help to lessen the burden of lawn maintenance. The Township could also consider making these simple seating areas for community gathering, if desired.

Mill Race Tot Lot

Natural Play

Fitness Groves

Balance Beam Robinia

Dip Bench Robinia

Parkour 2

Tree Climber

Crawling Pyramid Stilts

Forest Springers

Images courtesy of Kompan, Inc.

Parallel Bars Robinia

Hillcrest / Morningside

Connectivity RECOMMENDATIONS

BushkillCreekGreenway-BikePath

ParkingOptional:ADAdesignatedspot

Most Greenway users first drive to public parks to then hop on the trail, and it is clear that improving connections of roadways and trails is critical to creating a better network. Bushkill Drive is a low-volume PennDOT roadway that hugs the curves of the Creek. The speed limit of most of the road is 45 MPH, and cars traverse it quickly. Bikes, runners, walkers, and anglers are often using the side of the roadway to walk between Greenway sites.

Sidewalks

The simple provision of sidewalks can help create pedestrian infrastructure and promote ADA accessibility through sites. There are many entryways to the Greenway with significant sidewalk gaps. The example opposite shows the addition of a sidewalk on the northern side of the bridge at Northwood Avenue, which would promote connection between Penn Pump Park, the Bikeway, and Lions Park in Forks Township.

Buffered Bike Lanes

A buffered bike lane along Bushkill Drive could complement trail connections along the Greenway, helping create safer conditions for pedestrians along its length. A buffered bike lane is a conventional striped bike lane that includes an extra painted buffer area between the bike lane and adjacent motor vehicle or parking lanes.

If a planting buffer is not possible, a bike lane along Bushkill Drive could integrate a safe separation (guardrail separator or other mechanism) between vehicles and trail users.

These bike lane would complement the multi-modal trail of the Greenway that is West of the Bushkill Creek and Bushkill Drive, allowing for greater access from the east. This intervention would require the coordination

Buffered Bike Lane

Entry to Penn's Grant Path bridge

Trailhead with seating & signage

Greenway Access at Penn's Grant Open Space

Crosswalk with rapid flashing signal for crossing

Bump-out

Crosswalks

Proposed Buffered Bike Lanes at Bushkill Drive

of multiple municipalities and PennDOT, and may be a challenge to fund, but should be considered for longterm feasibility.

Crosswalks & Bump-outs

There are many entryways to the Greenway that do not have crosswalks for pedestrian safety. Incorporating crosswalks with bump-outs could help lessen crossing lengths and creates better visibility of the pedestrian. When paired with rapid flashing crossing signals, this helps to control traffic. This configuration, as shown in the rendering at right that shows the crossing of the Greenway trail and Northwood Avenue, is being implemented in 2026 through grant funding and will contribute to better visibility at Penn Pump Park where the trail crosses over Northwood Avenue. The Township could also consider lighting at this intersection for better visibility from cars.

Sidewalk

Buffered Bike Lane

Existing

Forks Township's Lions Park

BushkillCreekGreenway-BikePath

Mill Race Park

CONCEPT & IMPLEMENTATION

The largest park in the Bushkill Creek Greenway, Mill Race provides access to Bushkill Creek, sports fields, picnic areas, and native plantings for visitors. There have been restoration efforts by the Bushkill Creek Conservancy and Wildlands Conservancy to create enhanced riparian buffers on the site.

The goals for the park’s improvements include further enhancing habitat, performing floodplain restoration and enhancement, locating new facilities out of the 100-year floodplain, and offering ADA access to the park’s many amenities.

Of all the parks in the Greenway, Mill Race is most susceptible to increased flooding caused by upstream development and climate change. Additional runoff will further inundate the site and create more frequent flood problems in areas where flooding is already experienced. If the park is to continue hosting athletic events, it should be retrofitted to better facilitate drainage and decrease loss-of-use due to wet and muddy conditions. Consolidation of fields and

Mill Race Park: Existing

installation of underdrainage can help with mid-term usability of the fields. In a few decades from now, maintenance needs may be too great, and the park may need to revert to its original wetland condition.

The design concept works with current and future conditions, framing the park with larger riparian buffer plantings, with the long-term plan of adding ADAaccessible elevated boardwalks. This would provide access while allowing visitors to be immersed in the beauty of the changing wetland landscape.

Enhancements include refreshed courts and fencing, a nature play grove, seating and shade for sports fields, ADA-access paths, new restrooms, and expanded sidewalks for ADA access. All improvements at Mill Race Park should maintain a zero-net fill balance within the floodplain. Restoration and shade tree planting in this park will help mitigate extreme heat, particularly given its proximity to areas that are vulnerable to high temperatures.

Mill Race Park: Proposed design

Mill Race Park: Proposed, during a 100-year food

Mill Race Park & Tot Lot

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Install signage: Wayfinding, identity, rules, trail markers, and interpretive

• ADA accessible pathways to existing pavilion and restrooms; add crosswalk at parking

• Continue riparian buffer forestry enhancements along park edge

• Install native plants within riparian buffer and create openings for water access and fishing

• Relocate sports fields to more consolidated condition; add shade trees and ADA accessible spectator seating

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Add ADA accessible pathways to sports and play amenities

• Extend sidewalk to existing sidewalk network along Water Wheel Lane; add crosswalk

• Continue lawn to meadow conversion, and integrate with existing riparian buffers

• Replace aging restrooms with new ADAaccessible restrooms

• Add a water-bottle refill station outside of restrooms

• Continue meadow restoration along gas easement line and adjacent to forest

Long-term (10+ years)

• Add nature play and fitness grove, when the lifespan of existing playground is complete

• Create elevated boardwalks & overlook fishing piers with ADA access

• Add ADA accessible ramps for water access

• Create trailhead with seating, signage, bike repair station; composting toilet is an additional option as a trailhead amenity

• Add trees and meadow outside of the gas easement line; consider an ADA accessible ramp and seating area at the upper parcel; consider nature play, especially if the play area within Mill Race Park floods too often

What are the most important priorities for Mill Race Park? (3 votes per person)

107 total responses, Mill Race Park Pop-Up

Better access to the Bushkill Creek

Restoration of nature & habitat

Restroom improvements Places

Sewer

Easement

Power

Easement

Existing Ecological Restoration

Proposed Ecological Restoration

Rain Garden

Existing Tree

Proposed Tree

Proposed

Sidewalk

Proposed Boardwalk

Entry Signage

Interpretive Signage Water/Fishing Access

Trailhead Connection to Tatamy Trail

Keystone Park

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Plant trees along northern edge and parking areas (already underway by the Palmer Township Shade Tree Commission)

• Add new standard park signage at entry / exit

• Re-skin and seed existing sports fields, with overlap for soccer and softball; surround with no-mow native grasses/perennial planting

• Add shade trees and seating at perimeter of fields to offer shade for spectators

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Add sidewalk and trees at site perimeter to create walking loop

• Add fitness equipment along walking loop

• Add rain garden & wetland planting at low point of lawn space & convert lawn to meadow in order to reduce runoff and sedimentation onto adjacent private properties.

• Add site entry and signage along Pine Grove Drive

• Add sidewalk at existing concession and restrooms for ADA access

Long-term (10+ years)

• Convert existing angled parking spaces to 90-degree parking, taking the spaces from 76 to 102 total. Add shade trees at the parking lot perimeter

• Expand parking lot to add 34 spaces (136 total, with this addition)

• Add nature play and shaded grove adjacent to existing concessions and restrooms

• Work with EASD to restore and re-grade soccer fields for school and PTAA use, especially during tournaments or when Mill Race Park experiences floods

Tracy

Firethorne Dr. Louise

Site Entry (Pedestrian only)

Penn's Grant Open Space

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Clear dead ash stands (leave some snags for habitat)

• Add bench seating

• Add mulch at Boy Scout overlook area to minimize mud. Add seating to enhance overlook where riffles are in stream

• Install signage: identity, wayfinding, trail markers, and interpretive signs

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Restore bridge railing at Penn Grant’s Path entry to 42” height

• Erosion control stabilization along steep slopes to minimize erosion in stream beds

• Remove invasive plants and add native riparian forest and plants at buffer zone

Long-term (10+ years)

• Restore scrub shrub/grassland ecosystem under power line ROW

• Enhance wetland ecosystems to help stabilize soil with root systems

• Remove small dams along the Schoeneck creek for enhanced fish connectivity

• Consider public art and seating at the terminus of the trail, tying in with ecological and interpretive themes

• Connect to Fox Run trail and park to expand trail

Tatamy Rd.

Penn Pump Park

CONCEPT & IMPLEMENTATION

Penn Pump Park is one of the most heavily used parks along the Bushkill Creek Greenway and is widely known for its dam, swimming access, and fishing areas. However, the park experiences frequent flooding, ponding, and a high water table, and it becomes overcrowded during the summer due to the dam acting as a major attraction. The park has historically been listed online as an RV and water park, which has contributed to high visitation levels that create ongoing challenges for the Township related to maintenance, safety, and protection of the creek’s ecological systems.

The proposed improvements aim to transform Penn Pump Park into a safer, more accessible waterfront park that supports habitat restoration, manages flooding, and provides improved recreational opportunities while serving as a key destination along the Bushkill Creek Greenway.

The concept plan improves ADA accessibility throughout the park while enhancing ecological systems through floodplain restoration, expansion of the riparian buffer, and conversion of many gravel areas into planted landscapes or accessible walkways. Existing tree canopy will be preserved and supplemented with new overstory and understory plantings to strengthen long-term forest health and increase shade.

A key component of the design strategy is the potential acquisition of the adjacent industrial property with a condemned stone building along Walter and Northwood Avenues. This master plan recommends acquiring and clearing this site to create an elevated upper park area outside the 100-year floodplain. This space could accommodate amenities such as restrooms, nature play, and parking while improving access to the Greenway trail. New parking here would connect with the existing lot and create a secondary exit onto Walter Avenue, improving circulation and overall safety by eliminating the park’s current deadend entry condition.

Within the park, circulation improvements include installing a sidewalk along the existing sewer easement

and additional accessible pathways to reduce reliance on loose gravel surfaces that frequently wash out during storms. Ecological restoration areas and native plantings will protect the forest understory while enhancing the park’s natural character.

Existing picnic areas will be preserved and organized along the primary walking path near the creek, and the existing bocce court area will remain.

In the area where a current outfall and water access area exist provides a natural gathering point (see image at right). Improvements in this area will include an ADA pathway that will improve equitable access to the creek while restoring compacted soils and degraded riparian buffers in this areas.

The pavilion area will be improved, and the existing flood-prone restrooms will be removed and relocated outside the floodplain in the proposed upper park area. The stone structure will be repurposed to support the picnic and gathering spaces.

The existing baseball field, which is no longer used by leagues due to wet soil conditions but is occasionally used by the local middle school marching band for practice, will be re-imagined as a flexible lawn with a small amphitheater seating area. This space could support band practice, environmental education programs, and casual gatherings.

Additional improvements include installing sidewalks along the bridge to Bushkill Drive, which could connect to a future buffered bike lane along Bushkill Drive and sidewalk improvements leading toward Lyons Park, strengthening regional trail connectivity.

Finally, the plan recommends removal of Dam No. 6 to restore aquatic connectivity along Bushkill Creek. The existing dam bulkhead could be converted into a fishing pier, following precedents such as projects completed by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. This honors the history of the dam while maintaining a popular fishing location and river restoration.

Stormwater Permitting

The permitting for Penn Pump Park will all depend on what physical alterations are actually proposed to the outfall for the water access area. The MS4 permit (PAG-013) covers the entire township and their whole stormwater system. It is renewed every five years and likely maintained by the Township engineer and focuses on water quality. If there are physical modifications to the outfall with no impacts to the larger system or level of water quality at the discharge, the Township would most likely get Chapter 105 general permits for either GP-4 for Intake and Outfall Structures or a GP-11 for Maintenance, Repair, Rehabilitation, Replacement of water encroachments. Then a Chapter 102 NPDES (PAG-002) would cover the Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) design for everything on the site other than the outfall modification. When this area is improved, the Township should address the permitting needs at a pre-application meeting with the Conservation District.

All other permitting for this site is as described in the following pages for dam removal, as well as “Design Considerations” chapter.

The existing outfall and water access area will be reconfigured for ADA access and improved ecology/hydrology

Penn Pump Park

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Remove Dam #6 and restore stream banks with native riparian planting

• Convert the existing bulkhead into a fishing pier with interpretive signage

• Create bump-out crosswalks with rapid flashing signals & lighting (already planned for 2026)

• Continue riparian buffer improvements and management of invasive species

• Replace gravel paving with native planting in the interior of the park; consolidate picnic areas to reduce compaction of the forest, help with maintenance, and reduce preparation for floods

• Existing pavilion, bocce, and picnic areas to remain

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Add ADA accessible pathways along the existing storm sewer easement

• Add ADA accessible pathways at the site interior, with boardwalk and low floodplain improvement gardens; low points will have conveyance to the Creek to enhance drainage and post-flood conditions

• Consider funding the acquisition of the condemned property at Northwood and Walter Avenue

• Add sidewalk on Northwood Avenue, connecting to Forks Township’s Lions Park

• Create a stepped, wooded amphitheater at the site of the current ball field; add trees and enhanced riparian buffer

Long-term (10+ years)

• Install parking lot and park exit along Walter Avenue, if the condemned lot is acquired

• Build new restrooms with storage and water bottle refill stations outside of the 100-year floodplain, and renovate the stone pavilion to accommodate more picnic space

• Create a nature play area adjacent to the new parking and restrooms, located outside of the 100-year floodplain to help protect equipment

Penn Pump Park

FISHING PIER AT THE FORMER DAM 6

Fishing pier at Dam 6 with interpretive/historic signage

Native riparian corridor restoration

Existing

The existing bulkhead at Dam 6 above Penn Pump Park is an opportunity to preserve history and re-interpret it for modern use. A fishing pier and gathering place can offer ADA-accessible views of the restored creek bank. Interpretive signage that talks about the dam’s history as part of Walter’s Mill and Dam from the 1700s is a compelling way to communicate history along the Greenway.

Seeded mussel

Q6: To enhance visitation, which offerings should be added to the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose up to 3.

176 Palmer Township responses (11 skipped)

All responses

Ecological education (trout, mussels, bird-watching, etc.)

(158)

Foraging & plant identification walks

(138)

Play, Nature-based

(107)

Narrower stream channel

Invertebrates & expanded fish populations

Wood duck boxes (some existing)

Seeded mussel beds

Penn Pump Park

REMOVAL OF DAM NO. 6

Dam 6 2 is a magnet for activity and necessary cooling in the summertime, but is a dangerous liability 1 for the Township

The removal of Dam No. 6 is a key recommendation of the Bushkill Creek Master Plan that promotes social, ecological, and maintenance benefits. The low-head dam is located just above Northwood Avenue at Penn Pump Park and adjacent to Fork Township’s Lions Park.

Dam 6 is a magnet for social activity in the summer, which presents a liability and maintenance issue for the Township. Though they can appear harmless, these type of low-head dams can trap swimmers within recirculating currents and cause drownings.1 Despite signage that prohibits use, Greenway visitors jump off the dam and crowd the stream. This also contributes to overcrowding of Penn Pump Park in the summer, which has been a challenge for the ecological systems on site as well as park maintenance. There are many hydrological and ecological benefits for dam removal, as well, as noted at right.

How is Dam Removal Completed?

Wildlands Conservancy and partners have been working together with landowners throughout the Bushkill Creek for over a decade in dam removal as a strategy for addressing stream and floodplain restoration. Since 2021, 5 dams were removed in the Bushkill Creek through nine funding sources totaling more than $1 million with an additional dam to be removed in 2026. The projects were supported by more than 20 partners, including colleges, agencies, municipalities, private landowners, and the community. The projects focus on community engagement and partnership involvement, and partnering with Lafayette College faculty and students to incorporate the projects in their classrooms and internship programs. Lafayette collected years of data through cross section 1. https://www.americanrivers.org/low-head-dam-safety/ 2. Image courtesy of Palmer Township

Benefits Of Dam Removal

1. Restoring creek banks enhances water retention capacity, reducing both the frequency/severity of flood events.

2. Stream restoration improves water quality by reducing sedimentation and enhancing overall ecosystem health.

3. Dam removal restores fish passage & aquatic habitat for fish & freshwater mussels.

4. Removing dams eliminates a public safety hazard & increased liability for the Township

5. The dam is a focal point for recreation, contributing to park congestion and increased law enforcement presence.

6. Funds are currently available through Delaware River Basin Commission mitigation funds, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Northampton County. surveys, water quality and macroinvertebrate surveys to document the impacts of the dams and the benefits for removal. We recently partnered with Lafayette and an intern on educational signage, which will be posted along the trail head at the first dam removal site. Conservation partners are also investing resources in fresh-water mussel re-establishment as a result of the restored connection to the Delaware River. Fresh water mussels serve as natural water filters and will further enhance the water quality and stream health. By 2026, the Bushkill Creek will be free flowing from Penn Pump Park, downstream through the Delaware River, and connecting unobstructed to the Atlantic Ocean. Penn Pump Park dam will become the first barrier on the Bushkill Creek, with all downstream barriers removed.

Funding

In past dam removal projects, Wildlands Conservancy was the grantee and project manager responsible for the grant applications and management of the dam removals completed in the Bushkill Creek. All the dam removals were completed through secured funding at no cost to the landowner. Wildlands Conservancy would anticipate securing funds to cover all costs of the Penn Pump Park dam removal if landowners gave permission to proceed with the project. The same process that Wildlands Conservancy followed for the previous dam removals would apply to Penn Pump Park dam removal.

Currently, there is approximately $100k secured through mitigation money that Wildlands Conservancy is managing through the Delaware River Basin Commission which is approved to use at Penn Pump Park. Wildlands Conservancy would propose leveraging the secured funds and using it as match for future grant applications for the project. Potential funding sources include: PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Northampton County Livable Landscapes Grant Program, PA Department of Protection, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant program. These grant programs typically open in the new year/ spring season.

Design, Permitting, and Construction Process

Pennsylvania is a leader in dam removal throughout the country, and a strong working relationship between agencies and project managers means a streamlined permitting process. The agencies recognize the natural resource benefits in dam removal and the process is completed under a restoration waiver. The Chapter 105 permit waiver is approved by PA Department of Environmental Protection, with a list of requirements to meet for the review and approval process. Through project funding, Wildlands as the project manager, would hire an experienced engineer to develop the design and permit waiver package, following PA DEP requirements. The design process would include hydraulic analysis and surveys, soil samples, existing

Penn Pump Park

DAM REMOVAL PROCESS

City

of Easton (Dam #2) Construction Photos

Construction

Construction Day 1

utilities and conditions analysis, and opportunities to utilize the dam material for fishing access. Natural and cultural resources would be assessed and approval given by agencies to proceed. Design and permit waiver application package would be submitted to PA DEP, who would include other agencies in the review process as needed.

Proposed Dam #6 Fishing Pier/Fish Access Feasibility And Procedure:

During the design phase of the dam removal and stream restoration process, engineering would be conducted to determine where the restored stream channel would be located, and anticipated areas where riffles and pools would form. Once the dam is removed, the stream channel will narrow and deepen to its natural flow, compared to the overly widened and deep ponded conditions that are caused by the dam. A proposed fishing pier/access should be designed to access the best fishing habitat. Engineering would determine that location and the feasibility of installing fishing access at that site. Initial discussions with PA Department of Environmental Protection and PA Fish and Boat Commission were positive, and agencies responded with support for the proposed re-purposing of the dam material into a fishing pier/ access. Engineering would need to be conducted during the design and permitting phase of the dam

Construction

removal project to identify the best location, design, and specifications of the structure. Wildlands would include this item in the scope of work to be covered by grant funding for the project.

Construction Day 2

Construction would go through a bid process and Wildlands would address liability through an indemnification agreement with the construction contractor; the landowners would be included as an additional insured. Project details would be reviewed with the landowners for their input in all stages of the project. Wildlands would conduct any educational outreach with the community and local fishing clubs as recommended by the landowners to share information about the project. Lafayette College would continue to monitor the stream and mussel re-introduction as completed in previous years.

Dam #6 Removal Timeline

Wildlands Conservancy and partners would present updated timelines to Palmer and Forks Townships for landowner approval to pursue dam removal and stream restoration. These municipalities would then complete landowner agreement forms and a Memorandum of Understanding with Wildlands Conservancy to proceed with next steps. The estimated timeline is as follows:

• 12 Months: Wildlands to apply for grant funding and leverage the secured $100k mitigation money. Grants usually open in new

Day 1: Notching & drilling

Dam #2 Case Study by Wildlands Conservancy

year/spring and take approximately 1 year for grants to be awarded and grant agreements secured

• 12-18 Months: Conduct bid process to hire experienced engineer. Collaborate with permitting agencies, landowners, and public in design process. Analysis existing conditions and include fishing access/pier in ideal location (based on anticipated location of restored riffle/pool features); conduct public outreach. Complete design and permit waiver package for submittal; receive Chapter 105 permit waiver approval.

• 12-18 months: Conduct bid process to hire qualified construction contractor. Complete construction per design and permitting requirements. Conduct native plantings along stream bank for additional restoration measures. Timeline: 1 to 1.5 year(s).

• Expanding native riparian buffers and pollinator habitat along the Bushkill Creek

• Expanding native riparian buffers and pollinator habitat along Bushkill Creek

• Continue post planting invasive species management & monitoring

• Continue post planting invasive species management & monitoring 14

Dam #2 Case Study by Wildlands Conservancy

Day 1: Riparian Buffer installation

Year 1: Native planting buffer

Photo by Princeton Hydro

Riffle forming where dam was removed

Penn Pump Park

PAVILION & RESTROOMS

The proposed improvements for the pavilion include relocating the restrooms uphill and out of the floodplain. An additional bay of picnic tables take their place within the shell of the historic structure. This approach reduces the heavy maintenance needs associated with restoring the restrooms after flood events providing a resilient, long-term solution.

This view also shows more planting in central spaces, helping to absorb water, protect tree roots, and create a more lush, cool experience for park users. The creation and preservation of urban tree canopy should be prioritized. Planning for extreme heat can help mitigate health-related impacts and can also increase the usability of park spaces during summer months.

The shady pavilions and water-bottle refill stations at the relocated restrooms also contribute to cooling along the Greenway.

Q7: To enhance amenities & safety, which elements should be improved or added the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose 3.

responses (56 skipped)

Enhanced native planting to enhance root systems in forested zones

which added to Choose up to

wayfinding, etc.)

Existing

Expanded picnic area & relocated restrooms

Penn Pump Park

FLOODPLAIN IMPROVEMENTS

Floodplain improvements protect the ecological function of Penn Pump Park as a wetland, while also keeping areas for people to gather and play. By concentrating natural areas, it created more resilient habitat that can withstand climate risks. This also nestles those social places (picnic tables, bocce, play) within a lush setting that is much more pleasant than existing gravel and puddles!

Q9: To enhance ecology, what should be added or improved in the Bushkill Creek Greenway? Choose up to 3. 378 total responses (74 skipped), Survey #1

All responses

Biodiversity & restored wildlife habitat

Native planting restoration & pollinator gardens

Invasive plant removal / management

Reduced lawns, and more native wildflowers

Riparian edge buffer planting for water quality

Enhanced fishing spots along the creek bank

Rain

Rain barrels & reclaimed water use

Enhanced mussel & waterfowl habitat

Edible food forests

Other (please specify)

Enhanced native planting to preserve root systems for forested zones

ADA path

Group picnic area

Existing bocce court

Nature play

Floodplain improvement with ADA accessible pathways

Native plants & interpretive signage

Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Remove invasive species and add a riparian planting buffer zone

• Add informal cleared trails for angler access

• Site the Binney & Smith historical marker (this is currently in progress by Palmer Township)

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Add additional bench seating, solar compacting litter bins, and a dog waste receptacle / bag dispenser

• Secure access to the greenway trail and parking; then add park and entry signage

• Add directional and trail marker signage at the multi-trail intersection at Binney & Smith that leads to JG Mills or Hackett Park.

• New trail that leads to JG Mills (to be completed by others in 2026/2027)

Long-term (10+ years)

• When riparian buffer zone is complete, focus on other restoration closer to the trail, such as the zone with a stiltgrass invasion.

• Collaborate with Forks Township to pave the trailhead and introduce ADA accessible parking

• Consider adding public art within the preserve, and potentially partner with Karl Stirner Arts Trail on extending art and programming.

•

Hillcrest Open Space & Morningside Tot Lot

CONCEPT PLAN

Short term (1-3 years)

• Create crosswalk across Tatamy Road And Bushkill Park Drive for enhanced trail connection.

Mid-term (3-10 years)

• Paved trailhead parking for ADA access (Forks Township)

• On-street trail/sidewalk along Bushkill Park Road

Long-term (10+ years)

• When the Hillcrest Tot Lot equipment needs replacing, consider implementing Nature Play and fitness equipment. Also consider adding seating and low-maintenance native plants.

• Explore the feasibility of a sidewalk / trail connection along Bushkill Park Drive to link the Bushkill Creek Greenway with the Hillcrest Open Space area and neighborhood.

• Add sidewalk and crosswalk along Tatamy Road, and explore the feasibility of connecting to the Palmer Park Mall.

• Ecological enhancement with rip rap, live staking, and restored tree canopy

•

Tatamy Rd.

Bushkill Park Dr.

GreenwayTrail

CreekView

Greenway Expansion

POTENTIAL ACQUISITION SITES

Sidewalk connection

ADA access

Preservation zone with limited access for ecological research

Loop connection to Bikeway

A. Parking Area

There is a small parking lot across Bushkill Drive at Penn’s Grant Path that would be an ideal acquisition for Forks Township, in order to expand access to the Greenway. This is privately-owned land that was part of a suburban roadway access at one time.

B. Two Fool's Island

Two Fool’s Island is a privately-owned parcel of land located along the creek below Stocker Mill Road. That has a small pavilion and night lighting. This parcel was evaluated in previous years for its potential acquisition as part of the Bushkill Creek Greenway. Due to valuation changes, the conveyance of the land was never completed.

The Township should continue dialogue with the owner and find opportune grant funding that could incorporate this parcel into the Greenway. This space would likely not be utilized as a developed park, but there is potential to make it functional for people and wildlife as a natural area:

• This has potential to be a secondary access area and kayak launch into the creek.

• The grass area between Walter Avenue and Bushkill Creek could be established as an expanded riparian buffer to protect the stream. There is diverse in-stream habitat in this area which would be enhanced by buffer plantings.

• The area closer to the pavilion is partially paved, with compacted soil. This could be investigated for potential restoration and naturalization, which would provide pollinator habitat and create a pleasing visual along the Greenway trail.

C. Northwood Avenue Building

The condemned stone building at 2120 Northwood Ave in Palmer Township, PA, is a blighted, vacant property adjacent to the Greenway at Penn Pump Park. Following years of code violations (2015–2018) including structural collapse and trespassing, the Township condemned it and is pursuing a redevelopment study using a County grant. This parcel was included in concepts for Penn Pump Park, and should be considered for acquisition and linking to the Greenway.

Phasing & Cost Estimates Chapter 9

Phasing

This chapter outlines costs associated with the master plan vision to bring about change in parks and trails that meets the demands of climate change.

Funding & Prioritization

This master plan assumes that the vision for the Bushkill Creek Greenway will be achieved through incremental grant funding. A comprehensive list of grant funds identified as potential opportunities has been included in the Appendix. The Township should review grant opportunities every year, planning 1-2 years ahead of priorities for the Bushkill Creek Greenway.

The phased prioritization of parks can vary depending upon grants available each year. Overall, it is recommended that Mill Race Park and Penn Pump Park are among the Township’s first priorities for improvement, as they are two of the most heavily used spaces within the Greenway, and are also the most impacted by flooding and climate change. Signage should also be prioritized, and can be implemented incrementally. The passive space of Hillcrest Open Space is not a high-priority space, but should still be considered for funds applying to invasive plants and forest restoration.

Phasing

The master plan vision is phased within three terms:

• Short Term, 1-3 Years

• Mid Term, 3-10 Years

• Long Term, 10+ Years

The park improvements are organized into short-, mid-, and long-term phases to allow for strategic implementation aligned with funding availability. Shortterm actions focus on high-impact, lower-cost priorities such as safety upgrades, trail connections, signage, and targeted site enhancements. Mid-term investments advance larger capital improvements, including expanded recreation amenities, habitat restoration, and infrastructure upgrades. Long-term initiatives address transformative projects such as major facility development or significant reconfiguration.

Phasing should be flexible and responsive to grant cycles and partnership opportunities, allowing the Township to advance individual components as funding becomes available. Correspondingly, the cost estimates categorize recommendations within each of the three phases to support capital planning, grant applications, and long-range budgeting.

Cost Estimate Information

The charts in this chapter correspond with the phased improvement recommendations in Chapter 8, “Design Process & Recommendations,” where the item number in this estimate matches the color-coded dots on the concept plans.

The cost estimates were developed in 2026, and do not account for annual inflation. At the time when grant applications are filed, the Township should include a % multiplier for inflation, based upon the latest CPI (U.S. Consumer Price Index) data available for annual inflation. Absent this information, the Township could assume a 3-6% escalation each year.

In addition to capital improvement costs, the estimates also include the following “soft” costs:

• 15% Allowance for design & professional engineering costs

• 3% Permitting or testing

• 10% Contractor mobilization and bid bonds

• 1% Contractor insurance

• 10% Site Clearing & Erosion Control

• 5% Construction Administration

• 10% Construction Contingency

Exclusions

There are certain items that have not been included in the cost estimates that should be noted:

• The soil stabilization and erosion control measures at Penn’s Grant Path is being completed as a separate project by Palmer Township, and has a separate budget.

• The soccer field improvement at Keystone Park is a consideration rather than a recommendation, so was not priced.

• Tree planting grant applications for the Keystone Park plan are already underway by the Shade Tree Commission. This grant covers the cost of twenty shade trees, and is synergistic, yet independent of this master plan.

• The dam removal at Penn Pump Park is not included, as the project costs would be funded for by state mitigation funds, as noted in Chapter 8. For reference, dam removal would be about $250-350K for design, permitting, and construction (depending on scale and surrounding infrastructure). The fishing pier feature could be up to $200,000 depending on the type of permitting and design of pier.

• The potential acquisition of the Northwood Avenue Site and Two Fool’s Island are unknown costs at this time, but will continue to be evaluated by the Township.

• Roadway improvements such as the buffered bike lane or sidewalks that lay within Forks Township property are considerations for future collaboration rather than objectives, so these items have not been priced.

Overall Bushkill Creek Greenway Costs

Total Costs

BUSHKILL CREEK GREENWAY

Mill Race Park & Tot Lot COST

$2,409,578.00

Penn's Grant Open Space

Keystone Park COST ESTIMATE

Penn Pump Park COST ESTIMATE

Wildlands Conservancy Binney &

Hillcrest Open Space & Morningside

Management & Maintenance Chapter 10

Management & Maintenance

EXISTING CONDITIONS

A common perception is that park improvements increase maintenance, but the vision for the Greenway actually works to reduce maintenance burdens in several key ways:

• Investing in stable ecosystems and hydrology that can resist invasive species and disease

• Introducing equipment, signage, and amenities with durable materials that outlast typical fixtures

• Concentrating social/gathering/play spaces and expand native planting buffers so that negative impacts of human use are reduced (litter, soil compaction, etc.)

• Converting lawn to native meadows and ecosystems so that the Township spends less on labor, equipment, and gasoline

No additional staff is required to support the Greenway, once the recommendations have been completed.

Key Maintenance Issues

Restroom maintenance and trail clearing are the Township’s most consistent and costly maintenance issues. The amenities and improvements that will have the greatest impact upon maintenance costs include:

• Split-rail fence replacement with concrete posts, to eliminate rotting posts

• Install new bathrooms, located outside of floodplain

• Removal of Dam 6 at Penn Pump Park, to enhance safety and lessen overcrowding of the park in the summer

• Removal of invasive species that encroach along the trail

• Permanent safety surfacing should be explored, to prevent engineered wood fiber from washing away during flood events

Maintenance Responsibilities

Palmer Township’s Public Works Department maintains more than 300 acres of property across all the Township, including everything on the west side of the Bushkill Creek. The Binney and Smith Preserve is maintained by Wildlands Conservancy, with the Township only maintaining the asphalt trail that runs through it.

Public Works has 38 full- and part-time employees on the ground everyday, and they are deployed on an asneeded, seasonal basis to specific parks. Of this team, 6 maintenance worker are devoted to parks, and there are 9 staff within the Parks Department. Public Works also brings in 8 to 10 seasonal workers to help with grass cutting and maintenance.

Extreme heat days can be unsafe for crews, so Public Works has had to modify mowing schedules to prioritize safety. Teams start work much earlier during those days, and use the canopy and pavilions within parks as refuge. The number of extreme heat days is projected to double by 2050, so taking measures to lessen maintenance needs helps the Township to sustainably manage the Greenway.

Trail Maintenance

The Palmer Bikeway is a total of 12 miles, with more than 4 miles that pass through the study area of the Bushkill Creek Greenway. The 10-foot wide asphalt trail traverses through multiple ecosystems and conditions, many of which are forested riparian corridor. Just like parks, the trail requires maintenance of living systems, mowing, leaf and litter removal. On a weekly basis, one of the Public Works team looks up and down the trail to see if repairs are needed, and log work orders to fix items.

Flooding-related Maintenance

Flooding is a way of life along the Greenway, and it has become clear through analysis and resident experiences that floods are becoming more intense and frequent. Amenities and materials within the floodplain wash away, ranging from gravel paving to entire picnic tables. Furnishings are now removed from parks before flood events are expected, but cleanup can still take up to two weeks.

of maintenance challenges within the Greenway

Restrooms and infrastructure within the floodplains need constant repair, and there is much wear after decades of floods. Silt, sediment, and pollutants seep into materials regularly with a depth of at least a foot within restrooms (specifically, Penn Pump Park).

Penn Pump Park

Penn Pump Park is a particularly high-use area, with rising staffing and maintenance costs to manage summer crowds. Overcrowding stems from highvolume, often out-of-state weekend visitors flocking to the Bushkill Creek, exceeding capacity with more 500 people. Online, the park is tagged has been tagged as a “RV park” and “water park,” which has made it a magnet for activity on hot, summer days. This causes severe issues including unsafe/illegal parking, overflowing trash, noise, and strained Township resources. Overloaded garbage cans and unsanitary restroom conditions are reported, requiring heavy, sometimes overtime, cleanup by Township staff.

A Township employee monitors the park every weekend in the summer to control crowds, but overuse continues to test the limits of the ecological systems on site. Design concept recommendations for Penn

Pump Park address these concerns through circulation, restoration of natural plant habitat, consolidation of seating areas, and removing Dam No. 6. The concept also addresses the ongoing loss of play safety surfacing by raising the play area out of the 100-year floodplain.

Play Areas

The Township performs monthly inspections for play structures and addresses issues immediately. ADAaccessible equipment is integrated, and the Township typically replaces equipment every 10 to 15 years. Mulch that washes away in floods and is dispersed throughout parks (particularly at Penn Pump Park) is an ongoing drain of resources for cost and labor. This could be avoided by raising play areas out of the floodplain, as well as providing permanent playground safety surfacing.

Restrooms

Restrooms are unheated, so they are open seasonally from mid-April through October. During the offseason, some parks have portable toilets available. The Township also supplies portable toilets for larger events, however PTAA supplies their own for sports tournaments. ADA Accessible portable restrooms are not always available.

Examples

Management & Maintenance

RECOMMENDATIONS

Invasive Species

The wind and water of the creek will provide a constant pressure for invasive species, but having stable native ecosystems, especially with tough natives, will create resistance and resiliency against invasive plants from thriving. Most invasive species are in the understory of the Greenway and are managed by Public Works, as well as through grant-funded efforts by organizations like Bushkill Stream Conservancy and Wildlands Conservancy.

Goatscaping

Goatscaping is an ecological land management practice that uses goat herds to control invasive vegetation and overgrowth. Goats naturally consume species such as multiflora rose, poison ivy, and knotweed, reducing the need for herbicides and mechanical clearing. This approach is especially effective on steep slopes, riparian corridors, and hard-to-access areas, while also improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and offering a low-impact, cost-effective alternative to traditional maintenance methods. This practice should be considered as a way of engaging the community for invasive species removal, targeting areas that will be restored with native perennials and forests.

Create Standards & Goals

It is recommended that the Township set sustainability goals for maintenance that follow best practices and standards to ensure the best outcomes and healthy practices for the community as well as maintenance providers. These goals and standards should be based on the best practices such as the Sustainable SITES™ rating system1 and the NOFA Organic Land Care2 standards. A condensed format of the goals can be shared with the community as a resource and for volunteer efforts.

Sustainable practices include but are not limited to prohibiting the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, including glyphosate, reducing water use by using native and adaptive plants, and minimizing the use of fossil-fuel equipment.

It is important to acknowledge that sustainable practices can sometimes be associated with higher costs and/or unconventional methods. This should be considered when creating the goals to make sure the goals are balanced with the budget, while also keeping in mind the potentials of volunteer efforts in aiding these goals.

The Township should also include digital tracking systems for maintenance and service items, such as Productive Parks, PSD Citywide, or others.

De-carbonizing Equipment

To address older park maintenance equipment, Palmer should establish benchmarks3 for transitioning to more efficient or alternative fuels. This transition can reduce the overall environmental footprint of maintenance while providing long-term cost savings such as those associated with electrification technology. New technology should be assessed every few years while it continues to develop.

Lawn to Meadow Conversion

Lawns offer recreational value within parks, but also require ongoing mowing by Public Works crews. The lawns within the Greenway are typically host to geese and other waterfowl, who leave their waste behind. Palmer Township’s Public Works Department is supportive of the concept of converting some (but not all) lawns in the Greenway to native plant habitat, which will help lower maintenance burdens during peak spring/summer months. This conversion from lawn to meadow supports climate adaptive objectives in the plan through building habitat, increasing flood capacity, capturing carbon, and reducing mowing. The meadows at Mill Race Park have now been in place for almost two decades, and are a testament to this successful strategy.

Snow Removal

It is assumed that some hard-paved areas will receive snow management in the winter. Deicer or salt are discouraged, but some abrasives such as sand may be used, as well as rock salt alternatives such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or epsom salts.

There should be no dumping of accumulated snow onto park and trail hard surface areas or grass areas along the stream. This will prevent salt, oil, sediment and debris from polluting the creek and compacting soil along the creek bank.

Athletic Turf

Athletic turf should be reseeded, fertilized, and aerated on an annual basis. It is recommended to follow organic turf maintenance practices, which can cost 25% less than conventional turf management.4

Courts

Maintenance teams should monitor the surface for cracks, dips, and tripping hazards to ensure safety and clean and sweep surfaces once a month during the season of use. Seek professional recommendations for repairs and re-coating courts as needed.

Remove nets during winter months to prevent cold weather stress. Store portable nets such as pickleball and basketball nets. The tennis net can stay in place when pickleball nets are set up and will simply act as a separation between the 2 pickleball areas. Set up a system for installing pickleball and basketball nets on a scheduled basis or by request.

Rain Garden / Bio-retention

Improvements in the floodplain that create rain gardens and bio-retention require specific maintenance regimens. They should ideally be sited in areas that have been tested and do not contain Karst geology, in order to minimize sinkholes; alternatively, these can be lined. Example of Bio-retention System Maintenance requirements include:

• Daily for two weeks after Installation: Water vegetation at the end of each day for two weeks after planting is completed.

• Biweekly (Early Stages): Inspect erosion control until soil settlement and vegetative establishment of contributing areas has occurred.

• Biweekly for the first year after installation:

Inspect vegetation for signs of disease or distress.

• Every four days during period of four or more days without rain (June-August for first year after installation): Water vegetation regularly to ensure successful establishment.

• Monthly for first year after installation to determine ongoing maintenance frequency: Inspect inlet controls, outlet structures, and storage areas for trash and sediment accumulation.

• Biweekly: Inspect soil and repair eroded areas, Remove litter and debris, Clear leaves and debris from overflow.

• Monthly or As needed: Regularly remove sediment and debris from system outlet control structure, as applicable, when the sediment zone is ¾ full. Remove sediment and debris from underdrainage systems. Sediment depth is not to reach a maximum depth of four inches below the BMP’s outlet invert elevation. Removal of sediment from must be per manufacturer’s recommendations or as per the site-specific maintenance schedule.

• Monthly: Inspect trees and shrubs to evaluate health, replacing, if necessary, inspect underdrain cleanouts, add additional mulch, Inspect for sediment build-up, erosion, and vegetative conditions

• Quarterly (and after major storms in excess of 1 inch of rainfall): Inspect outlet control structure. Remove floating debris.

• Annually: Maintain records of all inspections and maintenance activity.

1. Sustainable SITES initiative, https://www.usgbc.org/ resources/sites-rating-system-and-scorecard

2. NOFA Organic Land Care Standards, https://nofa. organiclandcare.net/

3. “The Electrification of Parks and Recreation.” National Recreation and Park Association, March 23, 2023. https:// www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2023/april/ the-electrification-of-parks-and-recreation/

4. Organically Managed Grass Athletic Fields, Green Building Alliance: https://gba.org/blog/organically-managed-grass-athletic-fields/

Management & Maintenance

RECOMMENDATIONS

Earth Stewards of Palmer is an example of volunteerism that empowers Palmer residents through community action.

Images courtesy of Earth Stewards of Palmer website

• Ongoing: Evaluate the drain down time of the BMP after a storm of at least one inch in no more than 24-hours to ensure an BMP drain down time of less than 72 hours, Maintain records of all inspections and maintenance activity

• As Needed: Re-mulch void areas, Treat diseased trees and shrubs, Keep overflow free and clear of leaves

Stormwater Management Maintenance

Many area of the existing site and proposed master plan include areas with stormwater management. These items should be attended to regularly, and particularly after storm events. Maintenance and management for these items includes:

• Keep all utility easements clear and traversable, per agreements

• Perform regular vegetation maintenance for vegetated systems

• Host regular Inspections and repairs of storm structures

• Jetting of pipes for subsurface systems

• Keep maintenance logs for all systems

Volunteerism

Earth Stewards are volunteers that help to build a healthier environment in Palmer Township, including park clean-up days, local events and initiatives. Other organizations that regularly volunteer their time include the Bushkill Stream Conservancy, Wildlands Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and Lafayette College.

The community noted a number of organizations that they would like to see participating within the Greenway with education, programming, and volunteerism. Refer to page 79 for this information.

Additional Ideas for Volunteerism include:

• Plant Ecology, Identification, and Invasive Species Training: Engage the Shade Tree Commission, local Master Naturalist or other experts in the field to host an educational day on plant and tree ecology, identification and invasive species along the Greenway.

• Community Reporting: Allow community members to report small maintenance items like broken benches, pruning, etc. Include contact info in park signage so people can have a relationship with Township and be the “eyes and ears” of the park system.

• Community Outreach: Launch an awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of tree planting and lawn to meadow conversion. Collaborate with local media outlets, community groups, and schools to promote the initiative. Host workshops or informational sessions to educate residents about the importance of native species and their role in the ecosystem.

• Volunteerism Awards: Recognize civic participation at volunteer and other community events through awards and dedications. This is a meaningful way to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of community members who have contributed in different ways to keeping Palmer’s parks healthy and vibrant. These recognitions celebrate civic participation and inspire continued community involvement.

Signage & Wayfinding Chapter 11

Signage & Wayfinding EXISTING ASSETS

Trail Identity

Palmer Bikeway trail signage

Palmer Township park entry

Standard playground rules signage

Palmer Township standard park rules

Palmer trail map standard

Palmer Township park entry

Signage & Wayfinding

GUIDELINES

Existing Conditions

Signage is an important component of the Greenway experience, since the trail and collection of parks covers such a large area. Not all residents perceive these parks as being part of the Bushkill Greenway, but many know disparate parts: the trail, the park, the sports fields they use. Signage and branding can tie them together under the umbrella of the Greenway, and invite people to enjoy an expanded experience, exploring places they might not already know.

The planning team evaluated the level of branding and signage on the site. There is a desire to balance branding & wayfinding with the tranquil nature of the Greenway. It should not feel like a busy, urban experience with too much information that detracts from the experience of nature, but rather a system of signage that is intuitive and fits the character of the actual place.

Existing signage types for parks, wayfinding, and trails differ in its format and design. New signage created by Palmer Township in its iconic green and white style should be part of the branding of the Greenway so that these spaces are recognizable as being part of Palmer Township.

Design Guidelines

Proposed signage types on the following pages show guidelines for design, with 5 main types of signs: Identity, Rules, Trail Markers, Directional, and Interpretive. Sharing consistent branding implemented across the Greenway, these are helpful for residents and visitors alike.

Signage along the Greenway needs to also embrace 4 distinct brands for one trail: The Bushkill Creek Greenway, which is also part of Two Rivers Trailway, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail, and the September 11th National Memorial Trail. Each has its own mile markers, branding, and connected destinations. The mile markers on the following page show a possible solution, where a consistent mile marker can display the brand while fitting the aesthetics of other markers.

There is a (proprietary) signage finish called “Direct Embed” that creates fade-proof, peel-proof signage where the ink is “tattooed” directly on to metal. An anti-graffiti coating helps deter vandalism, and can allow signage to last decades in good condition. It is recommended that future signage efforts explore this finish for site sustainability.

Signage should allow community members to report small maintenance items like broken benches, pruning, etc. by including contact info in park signage so people can have a relationship with Township and be the “eyes and ears” of the park system.

Bushkill Creek Greenway

PROPOSED SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING

Fairview Park

Interpretive Signage Locations: Ecology Interpretive Signage Locations: History

• Mill Race Park - riparian buffer

• Penn’s Grant Park - scrub/shrub at power lines

• Trout Unlimited Sign Updates

• Stocker Mill

• Two Fool’s Island - wetland setting

• Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve

• Penn’s Grant Park - Mill foundation wall at clearing

• Stocker Mill & Dam (Dam 7, Blue Easel)

• Proposed Fishing Pier (Dam 6)

• Wildlands Conservancy Binney & Smith Preserve

• J.G. Mills trail

Conceptual interpretive signs shown here were created by the Penn State Local Climate Action Program and could be utilized at multiple locations along the Greenway

Security Analysis Chapter 12

Security Analysis

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The Bushkill Creek Greenway is a rather safe public space, but no public space is without concerns for security and safety. With shaded canopies and open parking areas, greenways can often be sites for vandalism or encampments, so the design of public spaces should take into consideration accessibility and viewsheds. The design of the Greenway concepts embrace clear access, viewsheds, and open vistas that promote a sense of security and allow visitors to be observed.

Most of the crime that currently happens within the Greenway’s park system is related to theft of personal property from parked vehicles, and vandalism of public property. There are occasional issues related to behavior within parks, especially since alcohol is permitted for pavilion rentals. A “hot spot” for security challenges is Penn Pump Park, which is known for its over crowding during the summer months.

Park rules are posted in each park. However, with differing locations, signage types, and no multi-lingual access, the rules of park ordinances are not always understood by all. All parks are open dawn to dusk, but those with sports often stay open past these times.

UCR Statistics

Below are aggregated crime statistics from the PA Uniform Crime Reporting System for Palmer Township, PA. These are statistics for the whole of the Township in 2025 and 2024, and are not specific to public spaces nor the Bushkill Creek Greenway.

Theft is the crime of the highest rate, though it decreased by 30% from 2024 to 2025. Crime takes place at a generally higher rate in spring to summer months. Though not necessarily correlative, those are also peak months for park and trail usage, according to consistent observation by the Township.

2024 and 2025 comparative data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System for Palmer Township

1. https://www.ucr.pa.gov/PAUCRSPUBLIC/Home/Index

RECOMMENDATIONS

Vandalism

Vandalism results in financial costs to the Township each year for repairs and closed facilities, and it can undermine public confidence and users’ perceptions about the safety and care of park spaces. Effective vandalism deterrence isn’t simply a matter of surveillance and policing, but instead requires intentional programming and meaningful partnerships with volunteers and community members to activate and enliven public spaces. Research shows1 that wellmaintained parks are a critical deterrent to vandalism, reinforcing the idea that visible care discourages neglect and misuse. Improved park maintenance is one key deterrent to vandalism. Active, well-used public spaces create natural surveillance, deterring crime and fostering community.

Future Security Measures

Certain park settings and elements can deter vandalism and increase safety through environmental design. Some, but not all of these measures align with a set of standards for public space safety, called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)3:

• Spaces with multiple entry points and clear viewsheds enhance circulation and visibility, eliminating dead ends and obscured views.

• Lighting creates visibility and safety.

• Rapid repair of broken elements by Public Works and removal of graffiti by the Police Department sends a message that park are cared for.

• Security cameras outside of buildings and key historic structures within parks can help protect investments and deter vandalism.

• Since juveniles and teenagers have been shown2 to participate in a significant portion of vandalism cases nationally, youth engagement can deter vandalism. The Township should enhance programming for teens and young adults to transform their relationships with parks: art projects, programming, and play/ gathering during a park’s open hours.

• When play areas are updated, integrate open

play equipment and avoid the use of enclosed elements such as tunnels, interior spaces and enclosed slides.

• Install sports lighting for parks that are open late for sporting events, but utilize signage to make it clear that other parks are closed after hours

• Remote locking systems for doors and gates can be integrated to lessen maintenance burdens.

In addition to design measures, continued coordination with the Police Department to monitor parks. As evidenced by policing at Penn Pump Park, additional staffing can prevent overcrowding by directing traffic and informing visitors of capacity.

Park Rules

Compliance with park rules can be increased through the integration of a few key upgrades to existing signage. Park rules should be posted in visible locations near park entrances and parking lots and utilize a consistent signage type that is easily recognizable. Bilingual text and the integration of symbols can expand the accessibility of the signage to reach the broader public. Additional clarity should be added regarding park access after hours, particularly as it relates to sport field usage during games and tournaments.

1. https://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2022/10/221012101717.htm

2. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/vandalism

3. https://www.cpted.net/

MASTER PLAN PREPARED BY:

Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan

Bushkill Creek Greenway

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Project Funding

Palmer Residents

Leadership

Board of Supervisors

Steering Committee

Township Planning Team

Key Person Interviews

Planning Consultants

Executive Summary Chapter 1

The Bushkill Creek Greenway

Open Space &

Introduction GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Protect and Restore Ecology & Create Resilient Hydrology

Support Connection

Enhance Activity

Communicate History

Bushkill Creek Greenway WHICH

PARCELS ARE INCLUDED?

Parks in the Study:

Potential Acquisition Sites:

Dam Sites

What is the Bushkill Creek Greenway?

Regional Context TRAIL NETWORKS

Trail Gaps

Existing Trails In This Study:

Regional Trail Networks:

Regional Trail Network Gaps:

Purpose, Goals, and Objectives Chapter 2

Project Goals GOALS

History

Communicate History

Support Connection

Enhance Activity

Protect & Restore Ecology

Create Resilient Hydrology

RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS

Related Planning Efforts

ADA Accessibility Report

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

How is this report used?

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

CHECKLIST Project Objectives

Public Participation Chapter 3

Public Engagement PLANNING PROCESS

Planning

Public Meetings

Key Person Interviews

Public Engagement Process

PLANNING PROCESS

Community Surveys

Project Website

POP-UP 1: EASTON FARMER’S MARKET

Write-in Responses

Public Engagement Process

POP-UP 2: MILL RACE PARK PIZZA PARTY

Write-in Responses

POP-UP 3: PALMER COMMUNITY DAYS

Write-in Responses

Public Engagement Process

SURVEY #1 RESULTS

SURV E Y NO . 1

452 responses

Where Respondents Lived

SURVEY #2 RESULTS

SURV E Y NO . 2

76 responses

Background Information Chapter 4

Community Background

DEMOGRAPHICS

Home Ownership Rate

Total Population

Age

Median Age

Hispanic Origin

Access & Connectivity

WALKABILITY & PUBLIC TRANSIT