The purpose of the project is to stabilize, naturalize, and improve ecosystem function along Sandy Run Creek at Roychester Park and Grove Park in Abington Township, Pennsylvania. Specific objectives are to enhance and restore aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitat; improve infiltration of flood waters; stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion; control invasive species; and reconnect floodplains.

In Roychester Park, the banks in the above ground sections of the creek are currently severely eroded and disconnected from the surrounding floodplain. Furthermore, invasive species and other factors reduce the quality of the habitat. In Grove Park, the main section of the creek is channelized with concrete, which reduces the aquatic habitat value and increases water velocities during storms. 

Construction within Roychester Park and Grove Park will be similar but include different features in each park.  

In Roychester Park, the Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor will: 

• Bank Stabilization: Regrade, stabilize, and plant stream banks to reduce erosion and sedimentation in this stretch of Sandy Run.
• Culvert Replacement: There would be a Contract Option to replace two culverts with prefabricated steel footbridges.
• Sanitary Sewer Relocation: Installing a new sanitary line comprising roughly 827 feet of 10-inch PVC sewer pipe along with four precast reinforced concrete manholes due to ongoing erosion.
• Riparian Enhancement: Placing around 990 square feet of riprap to stabilize eroded banks.
• Upland Native Planting:  Clearing and grubbing approximately 1,979 square yards of land, regrading and stabilizing 900 linear feet of the stream bank using native live stakes and seed. With the option of plant a native wildflower meadow near Corinthian Avenue on a hill that has little recreational value.

In Grove Park, the Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor will: 

• Stream Naturalization and Stabilization: Remove existing gabion baskets, regrade banks with stream benches to better connect the main channel with the forested riparian buffer. Remove 350 linear feet of concrete channel bottom and replaced with stream substrate of riprap choked with smaller stone. Provide additional stream stabilization using large woody debris.
• Riparian Enhancement: Plant riparian area from the top of bank to a width of approximately 70 feet on both sides of the stream with native tree, shrub, and herbaceous species. Plant upland areas with native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants to expand the riparian buffer into open high ground and connect the riparian buffer to the existing adjacent forested floodplain.
• Forested Floodplain Enhancement: Excavate a tributary channel in a low-lying area of the forested floodplain. Fill the stormwater channel at the east end of the park and redirect the storm water outfall into the excavated channel to utilize the filtrating and storage capacity of the forested floodplain and wetlands in the park. Excavate small areas in the forested floodplain to enhance wetland functions. Remove multiflora rose from this section of the park.

Generally, construction will involve the use of excavators, dump trucks, and other heavy equipment. Materials, including rip rap, prefabricated footbridges, and sewer pipeline will be trucked to the site. Excess soil and stones will be removed from the site.  Access will be fenced off for safety purposes. Construction is expected to take a total of one year.

• Recent work: (updated Jan. 29, 2025)
• Mobilization and setup have been completed 
• Work Progress from Past Week:
• Clearing and Grubbing
• Preconstruction Survey
• Samples of Existing Soils taken for Testing

• Upcoming work: (updated Jan. 29, 2025)
• Completion of Construction Entrances / Staging Areas
• Stake out Wetlands / Project Limits / Stations
• Prepare Stakes for Soil Lifts
• Stockpile/Manage Materials Generated from Clearing and Grubbing
• Tree Removal 
• Receive Delivery of Fabric

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is managing the overall project. A contractor (yet to be determined) will be responsible for physical construction. Abington Township is the non-federal sponsor for the project. Construction is cost shared between the federal government (65%) and the Township (35%). 

• Information specific to Grove Park will be posted here leading up to and during construction

• Information specific to Roychester Park will be posted here leading up to and during construction of the project