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Towpath to Close Intermittently at Scudder Falls

Towpath to Close Intermittently at Scudder Falls

April 20, 2020

INTERMITTENT TRAIL CLOSURE:  The towpath may be closed in the area of I-95/I-295, Scudder Falls Bridge, intermittently through end of May 2020.  Closures may occur between 6am-5pm Monday through Friday; the trail will be open on weekends. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) will be conducting work on the new bridge over the canal and towpath during these closures.  For additional information please visit the DRJTBC website at www.scudderfallsbridge.com or you can contact the toll-free info line at 855-495-7726.

 

|| April 20, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, Delaware Canal State Park, Scudder Falls Bridge, Towpath Trail ||

Towpath to Close at the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge

Towpath to Close at the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge

April 17, 2020

uhlerstown covered bridgeA contractor  working for the County of Bucks, owners of the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge, will begin repair work on the bridge roof on Monday, April 20. The towpath will be closed for approximately four days. Thereafter, the towpath may be closed intermittently as other repairs are undertaken.

Signage will be placed at the towpath trailhead at Tinicum Park advising visitors to head south rather than north. The accesses to the north at the Giving Pond and Jugtown Hill Road will also be signed. Please remember that the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath in New Jersey is currently closed, so doing the Uhlerstown/Frenchtown – Bulls Island/ Lumberville PA/NJ Canal Loop will not be possible.

 

|| April 17, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, Delaware Canal State Park, Towpath Trail, Uhlerstown ||

Tree Down Between Levittown Shopping Center and Haines Road

Tree Down Between Levittown Shopping Center and Haines Road

April 10, 2020

A large tree fell down across the towpath between the Levittown Shopping Center and Haines Road.  It fully obstructs the trail.   The State Park maintenance crew will tackle it next week, most likely on Tuesday.

|| April 11, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, Delaware Canal State Park, Levittown, Towpath Trail ||

Parks Closed Until April 30; Parking Lots and Trails Accessible

Parks Closed Until April 30; Parking Lots and Trails Accessible

March 23, 2020

DCNR Extending Closure of State Park and Forest Facilities Statewide, Open Spaces will Remain Accessible as Part of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts

 Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that all facilities at state parks and forests in Pennsylvania will be closed until April 30 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking.

Dunn noted this includes campgrounds, cabins and all overnight accommodations. Anyone with reservations in this time period will be contacted, and full refunds will be made.

“During the past week we’ve seen many people hiking trails and heading to the outdoors as a way to get exercise and relieve stress,” Dunn said. “We remind everyone that it’s OK to go outside, but we should still be practicing social distancing to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“This means we should spread out for outdoor activities – if you visit a public place and the parking lot or trailhead is crowded, try another spot, or head back to your neighborhood to take a walk if that’s possible,” Dunn said.

Closed DCNR facilities include:

  • Park and forest offices and visitor centers
  • Restrooms
  • Campgrounds, cabins and all forms of overnight accommodations
  • All reservable facilities
  • Public programs, events, and trainings are canceled through April 30

The best advice to slow the spread of the coronavirus is to stay home. If you are looking to be outdoors, stay as close to home as possible including your backyard, neighborhood, or local park or trail unless they are crowded (check first to make sure they are open, as some local parks are closed).

Visitors can help keep state parks and forest lands safe and clean by following these practices:

  • Avoid crowded parking lots and trailheads
  • Use the bathroom before you visit
  • Bring a bag and carry out your trash
  • Clean up after pets
  • Avoid activities that put you at greater risk of injury, as there is limited staff to assist

To help avoid exposure to COVID-19 and still enjoy the outdoors:

  • Don’t hike or recreate in groups – go with those under the same roof, and adhere to social distancing (stay 6 feet apart)
  • Take hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly
  • Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose
  • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow
  • If you are sick, stay home

Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, and 20 forest districts.

Information about state parks and forests is available on the DCNR website. Updates also are being provided on DCNR’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

|| March 23, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, COVID-19, Delaware Canal State Park ||

Parks Closed Until March 31; Towpath and Parking Lots Accessible

Parks Closed Until March 31; Towpath and Parking Lots Accessible

March 17, 2020

Pennsylvania State Parks Facilities will be closed for 14 days effective Tuesday, March 17 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking. All overnight and day use rental facilities will be closed. While these park facilities are closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.

 

|| March 17, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, COVID-19, Delaware Canal State Park ||

Delaware Canal State Park Closed Between March 15 and March 29

Delaware Canal State Park Closed Between March 15 and March 29

March 14, 2020

From the Delaware Canal State Park Manager:

Delaware Canal State Park will be closed for 14 days effective Sunday, March 15th to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ( The towpath trail may be used.)    As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all of the parking lots and buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled.  While this park is closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.  The towpath trail may be used during this time.

From the Friends of the Delaware Canal:

As part of the Park, the Locktender’s House in New Hope will also be closed.   We will be working remotely, so don’t hesitate to e-mail friends@fodc.org.  You may also call 215-862-2021, but a response could take a bit longer.    Both the Friends’ Lunch and Walk scheduled for March 28th and Canal Clean-Up Day scheduled for April 4th have been canceled.

|| March 14, 2020 || Tagged With: Closure, COVID-19, Delaware Canal State Park ||

Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal

Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal

September 20, 2019

From the Delaware Canal State Park – Devin Buzard, Park Manager

Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on October 7, 2019. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventive maintenance, inspections, and to complete several large repair projects.

Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Lock 22/23 (Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area) in Raubsville, Fry’s Run Aqueduct in Williams Township, Tinicum Aqueduct in Tinicum Township, Thompson Neely Historic Camelback Bridge in the Bowman’s Hill area, and Canal prisim repair near Airport Road in Bristol Towship.

Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until water can be reintroduced where possible as projects are completed.  Sections of the canal from New Hope south are dependent on higher river levels for re-watering and may take longer to refill. Currently, water levels in the southern portion of the canal are extremely low, and, in some areas, non-existent due to the lack of water at the New Hope inlet.

Drawdown of the canal must take place between July 15 and October 15 due to the regulations established by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to protect the imperiled eastern redbelly turtle.  During the drawdown period, park staff will be on site to remove and relocate any fish and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of canal with low water.  Public assistance in locating stranded fish is appreciated.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal, please contact the park office at 610-982-5560 for assistance.

 

|| September 20, 2019 || Tagged With: Delaware Canal State Park, Water, water level ||

Canal Drawdown Begins on Monday, Sept. 26

Canal Drawdown Begins on Monday, Sept. 26

Water level in the Canal will be lowered in several areas of Delaware Canal State Park beginning on Monday, September 26. The drawdown will allow for preventive maintenance, inspections and several small repair projects. Large stretches of the Canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that rewatering will begin on November 1.

Areas affected will include:

  • Raubsville: Smith’s Bridge (Woody’s Bridge)
  • Raubsville: Lock 22/23 (Groundhog Lock)
  • Solebury Township: Lower Limeport Bridge
  • Solebury Township: Bowman’s Hill
  • Yardley Borough: Lock 5
  • Bristol Township: Airport Road

The full text of the announcement from Joshua S. Swartley, Park Manager, is below:

Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on September 26, 2016. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventative maintenance, inspections, and to complete several small repair projects.

Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Smith’s Bridge (Woody’s Bridge) in the Raubsville area, Lock 22/23 (Groundhog Lock) in the Raubsville area, Lower Limeport Bridge in the Solebury Township area, the Bowman’s Hill area, the Lock 5 area in Yardley Borough, and in the Airport Road area of Bristol Township.

Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that the canal will be re-watered in the beginning of November. Sections of the canal from New Hope south are dependent on higher river levels for re-watering and may take longer to refill. Currently, water levels in the southern portion of the canal are extremely low and in some areas non-existent due to the lack of water at the New Hope inlet.

Drawdown of the canal must take place between July 15th and October 1st, due to the regulations established by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to protect the imperiled eastern redbelly turtle. During the drawdown period, park staff will be on site to remove and relocate any turtles, fish, and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of the canal with low water.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal please contact the park office for assistance.

Sincerely.

Joshua S. Swartley
Park Manager

|| September 19, 2016 || Tagged With: Bristol Township, Delaware Canal State Park, drawdown, Raubsville, Solebury Township, Yardley ||

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Friends of the Delaware Canal
145 South Main Street
New Hope, PA 18938
Phone: 215.862.2021
Michael Ginder, Executive Director

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