Radnor Township Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – January 8, 2026
Radnor Township Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – January 8, 2026
The Radnor Township Parks & Recreation Board met on January 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Radnorshire Room of the Township Building. The meeting included a reorganization of board officers, a presentation and public discussion on mountain biking opportunities in the township, updates on the Odorisio Park comprehensive improvement plan and the Fenimore Woods renovation project, and reports on programming, events, and committee activities.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the November 6, 2025 and December 11, 2025 meetings (motion and second).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Terry Lindsay (neighbor of Odorisio Park) spoke against using Odorisio Park for mountain bike trails, stating that nearby residents rejected the idea years ago and that the park should not be touched. He expressed frustration over lack of improvements to the park.
- Suzanne Fleming (Highland Avenue resident) described Odorisio Park as run-down, dangerous for children, and neglected, with unsafe playground equipment and no rubber matting. She demanded an explanation for why the park has not been improved.
- Kevin Moyens (local resident, family history in Radnor) questioned the feasibility of mountain biking at Odorisio Park, noting its small size (25 acres) and the availability of other regional parks. He expressed concern that the sport might be a passing trend and urged the board to prioritize existing residents.
- Demetrius Lambert (300 Midland) supported expanding trail systems in Radnor for hiking, walking, and biking, and expressed interest in connecting trails to other networks.
- A parent of a Delco Revolution team member spoke in favor of the proposal, noting the positive community and trail maintenance ethic of the team.
Discussion Items
1. Parks & Recreation Board Reorganization 2026
- The board unanimously elected Clark as Chair and Bell as Vice Chair for 2026.
2. Delco Revolution Mountain Biking Team Presentation & Proposal
- Bess Yates (parent, EAC member, 309 West Wayne Avenue) presented on behalf of the Delco Revolution team. She highlighted the rapid growth of mountain biking nationally and in Pennsylvania (11,811 coaches, 78 PICLE teams in the state), the physical and mental health benefits, and the team’s growth from 9 members in 2019 to over 60 currently.
- Youth team members (Eli, Colin, Alexander, Nico, Doug) spoke about personal benefits: stress relief, fun, community, and connection to nature.
- Alexander proposed a skills park or pump track at the lower portion of Harford Park, noting suitable topography, no tree removal needed, and nearby parking. He acknowledged potential conflicts with off-leash dogs.
- Sebastian Bradley (coach, Conestoga Road) explained that practices cover 5 to 15 miles, sometimes using repeated loops, and that trail types range from smooth/flowy to technical.
- Bess Yates identified potential parks for shared-use trails: Ithan Valley Park, Skunk Hollow, Sawmill Park, and Brook Farm Trail. She also mentioned Odorisio Woods and Harford Park as possible locations for new trails. For skills parks/pump tracks, additional sites include Skunk Hollow and the large field north of Darby Creek.
- Board members asked clarifying questions about scope, funding, and oversight. Tammy (staff) noted that funding would need to be investigated, citing a recent grant in Tredyffrin Township as a potential model.
3. Board Discussion on Mountain Biking Proposal
- Board members expressed appreciation for the presentation and youth involvement, but several voiced concerns about using Odorisio Park for mountain biking due to safety, neighbor opposition, and ongoing park improvement efforts.
- Board member (unidentified) noted that Odorisio Park is not suitable for mountain biking and encouraged exploring alternative locations such as township-owned land near Briarwood and Maylin, 800 Goshen Road, or the Chew and Young Tract.
- Tammy (staff) reiterated that the Odorisio comprehensive plan (developed with a $100,000 grant) focuses on playground, bathroom, and parking improvements, not the wooded area. She confirmed that the board has no current recommendation on mountain biking and that the presentation was the beginning of a conversation.
- Board member (mountain biker) suggested that skills parks/pump tracks might be more feasible than full trail networks, and offered to work with the group to evaluate alternative sites.
4. Odorisio Park Comprehensive Improvements – Update
- Tammy reported that the board has held numerous community meetings and developed a concept plan. The board approved a set of goals and objectives in July 2025. The next step is to finalize a concept plan with order-of-magnitude cost estimates, expected to be brought back to the board in February 2026. Funding sources may include grants, park impact funds, borrowing, capital budget, and partnerships with Radnor Wayne Little League and American Legion Baseball.
5. Fenimore Woods Park Renovation Project – Update
- Tammy presented photos and progress: masonry work is underway (paused due to cold), framing for the roof is complete, the tarp has been removed, interior rough-ins for electrical, plumbing, and drainage are in progress. The pavilion subbase is prepared, with concrete pouring expected in a few weeks. The pavilion structure is on site. Completion of the stable and pavilion is anticipated by March 2026, with a grand opening planned for June/July 2026.
6. Other Park Project Updates
- Capital Budget & Park Impact Fund: The 2026 comprehensive budget was adopted December 8, 2025. The fee schedule was introduced January 5, 2026, with adoption expected January 26, 2026.
- Trail Projects: No updates on Radnor Trail Extension, Darby-Paoli Trail, TAP Trail, Brooke Farm Trail, or Skunk Hollow Trail.
- Park Steward Program: The board discussed making the steward list more public on the website. A vacancy exists following Commissioner Childs’ move to the Board of Commissioners; applications are being accepted by the Township Manager.
7. Valley Forge Military Academy Update (New Business)
- Tammy reported that the Board of Commissioners on January 5, 2026 authorized the solicitor to begin eminent domain proceedings to acquire a portion of the Valley Forge property for open space preservation. The ordinance will be introduced January 24, 2026 and adopted (if passed) February 8, 2026. The acquisition is motivated by development pressure, open space goals, and the need to address failing infrastructure at the Sulpezio Gym (which is owned by the school district).
8. Reports
- Programming Update: 2025 events and programs recap; NRPA microgrant of $2,500 for live training at Radnor Daycamp; upcoming programs: Multi-Sport Dots (Jan 14), Universal Rackets (Jan 16), PA Hoops Academy (Jan 14), Hiking Hounds (Jan 24), men’s winter basketball, and Champions Fitletics (champions basketball and bowling planned for spring).
- Light Up Wayne Event: The inaugural Hanukkah menorah lighting on December 20, 2025 (rescheduled from December 13 due to snow) drew nearly 500 people. Partners included local businesses and the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia. It will be an annual tradition.
- Shade Tree Committee: Authorization granted for a grant to fund riparian buffer plantings at The Willows. The e-bike policy is in effect with a 30-day appeal window; fines are set at $25. Signage will be installed in spring.
Key Outcomes
- Reorganization: Clark elected Chair, Bell elected Vice Chair (unanimous).
- Mountain biking proposal: No formal action taken. The board agreed to continue exploring alternative locations, with staff committed to working with the Delco Revolution group. The Odorisio Park improvements remain a separate, priority project.
- Odorisio Park: Concept plan and cost estimates to be presented at the February 2026 meeting.
- Fenimore Woods: Project on schedule; pavilion and stable completion expected by March 2026; grand opening targeted for summer 2026.
- Valley Forge eminent domain: Ordinance to be introduced January 24, 2026; adoption vote February 8, 2026.
- Board vacancy: Applications for Parks & Recreation Board due to Township Manager Bill White.
- E-bike policy: Ordinance adopted with $25 fine; signage to follow in spring.
Meeting Transcript
Called order. We start with the Pledge of Allegiance. Good. And I'm new into serving in this temporary role for now as Howard has moved on to uh a new position. But as uh the vice chair of the board right now, I just want to move on to the approval of minutes from November 6th and December 11th. If I can get a motion for that and a second. My motion. Second. Thank you. We do have an agenda tonight. We're gonna change it somewhat because we do have a group of people here tonight that have an interest we want to address. Um, and we'll put reports to after that. Uh but uh first uh under new business, we have a reorganization where we have to define the new chair and vice chair. We had a meeting just before this where we uh uh had a vote. Uh and I don't know if uh would be appropriate to you, Andy want to go through the voting process. Yes, we uh we voted and unanimously um asked that um that Clark serve as the chair, Ms. Bell serve as vice chair. Um I guess so congratulations to them. Look forward to working under your guys' leadership tonight and through the rest of this year. Thank you. That if we have a motion to uh move forward with that decision. I move. And all right. Duly noted. Vice Chair. All right. With that said, uh, we can go on to new business. I know a lot of you have uh a topic tonight that you want to review. Uh we do have a group tonight from the Delco Revolution mountain biking team. Uh they had a uh presentation and proposal they wanted to bring forth. I realize there's a lot of community interest and conversation about that uh afterwards. I would just ask for our group to be able to give our the presentation and give them the time allotted. Uh and afterwards we'll have an opening for public comment. Uh we would ask those who have public comment to uh limit their conversation and and uh time with us, about five minutes of the podium. As we have presenters come up, we ask for your name and where you live, and just let us know uh where our neighbors are. And then after the public commentation uh comments are done, uh we we will have comments on the board uh and then we'll move on hopefully to our next grouping, which would be old business. So that said, I like to just welcome uh the uh group tonight, Delco Revolution mountain biking team, and I believe we have a spokesperson coming forth now if you give us your name. Yes. Hi there. Uh I'm Bess Yates, and I'm gonna speak on behalf of the Delco Revolution mountain biking team. And um I'm also speaking as a parent of a mountain bike team member, a sixth grader. So um, but I also wanted to share uh my many hats that I wear uh as a parent, but then I also um just want to share that have been so struck by what a wonderful sport mountain biking is, and that we were very fortunate to discover the Delco Revolution mountain biking team in this past year through Susie Bruns, uh, who is uh uh a neighbor down the street just within the neighborhood. I'm at 309 West Wayne Avenue, so um live close to Odorisio Park. Um I also wear other hats before joining Temple University's landscape architecture faculty in 2008. Uh I was a community-based planner working on reuse of superfund sites across the Southeast and Northeast and Midwest. Um I've been a certified arborist and currently sit on Radner's Environmental Advisory Council. So um just so you can be get a sense for my background. So really what we would like for us to do tonight. We have really one main priority. Try this is really just to get mountain biking back uh on uh our radars in in Radner Township and making mountain bike mountain biking a priority in Radner.
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