Great place to visit walk around 10k acres , see farm animals and different types of barns and…read morehistory of different farming tools. Very enjoyable date out. Pack a lunch and make a afternoon of it.

The township actually acquired Drexel Lodge Park from Drexel University as part of the Newtown…read moreSquare Corporate Campus project. It used to be where Drexel's football team did summer training. The park is free and open to all, but they also take reservations through the township office for the sheltered picnic area that apparently holds 200ppl. There are two of the old football playing fields in the park, still in use, but set up for soccer when I visited. The website says there are two ponds, though I only saw one obvious one with a nice long bridge across it, and a gazebo nearby. Again, the website says there is an open air amphitheater, though I was unable to find it. I did see the historic train "museum" area (Newtown Square Railroad Museum), which is a couple old cars at the front of the park, visible from route 3. Also very obvious near the parking lots are the bathrooms and the railroad-themed playground. Dogs are allowed on leash, and by the parking lot, there is a station with bags to pick up after them. This park has a lot going on in it, but no trails, which is what I look for in a park, to take a long walk. I appreciate it for what it is, offering the community places to rest, picnic, meander by the pond, and entertain kids at the playground and train museum. I wish they had funds to keep the train cars a little better preserved though. I give it a solid 3.5 stars (but had to round up).

Looking for a day drive? History? Fresh air? A small farm rich with history? Light hiking in over…read more600 acres of nicely groomed land? Think industrialism before its time. "Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American landscape of industrial operations from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other "iron plantations" laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant for the time. The park's 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology and lifestyle of our growing nation."

Nice little national park location within a state park. We came towards the end of the day, so we…read moreonly had a little brief informative chatting from a park ranger. The walk down to the buildings was pleasant, but on a hot day, it may feel a lot steeper. The properties are extremely well kept and lots of great signage. Learned a lot!

My partner and I toured 11 venues and were totally burned out We sat on our couch ready to give up…read morebut then we came across Welkinweir and were automatically off to tour number 12. We schedule an in-person tour and met with the JAM representative. Within the first few minutes my partner and I turned to each other knowing this was it. Welkinweir Estate is not only a beautiful venue but the JAM staff have been nothing short of amazing during this entire experience. HIGHLY recommend!

Welkinweir is an Old English word that translates to "where sky meets water." So named is the…read moreformer estate of Everett and Grace Rodebaugh, founding members of the Green Valleys Association (whose focus is on land preservation). The property is 197 acres with a 55-acre arboretum. The house is a c.1940 Fridtjof Tobiessen Colonial Revival creation, that encompasses prior historic c.1830 and c.1750 structures. The estate has been open to the public since 2000, and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2001. Everett George Rodebaugh (b1902), a 1922 UPenn alum, founded a court-reporting service in Philadelphia that boosted him to national prominence. The Rodebaughs had no children and traveled the world, but unlike the heavy Euro influence adopted by the DuPont estates in nearby Brandywine Valley, Welkinweir has remained true to its plein air, Weyethesque look. I was recently at Stoneleigh, where I expected William Powell to walk out of the house with a smoking jacket and a G&T. Welkinweir felt more like Spencer Tracy's hunting spot, if he ever had one. Welkinweir is located on Prizer road, a picturesque street of swank multi-mil horse farms, with a winery (Stone Barn Cellars) at the Pottstown Pike end. You head up the drive and around a hairpin turn, you are upon the house, so much so, you might hit it! Drive past the house, and parking will appear. A patio leads you to an info center on the exterior wall, with an abundance of brochures. Use the trail map to walk yourself around the hiking options on the property. Yes, this is a hike, so dress in sneaks or boots and comfortable clothing. There are various trail options, but we did the simple loop around the huge pond, and then explored the grounds by the house, and Pinetum in front of the house. We did about 3mi on the pedometer. We'd have loved to stay longer, but with dogs and a baby in the cold, 3miles was a comfortable stopping point. You could easily make this an all-day hiking destination. They have a large picnic shelter, with a nearby firepit area for warmer weather. There are also port-a-potties near the picnic area. House tours are normally available only to groups when set up in advance, but if you call to request it, they can sometimes accommodate smaller parties. According to what I've read, the house contains a rare pipe organ, letters and private documents of the Rodebaughs, and the DL on when they got robbed of a $250k silver set by one of their own house guests! As indicated, dogs are allowed on the trails and in the arboretum. They do need to be leashed and cleaned up after, of course. I am so happy to have found Welkinweir! I am fortunate to have so many cultural resources at my fingertips, locally, but I wish Welkinweir were closer because it has such a great vibe, and has been so lovingly tended and well thought-out, with the amenities of a state park, in addition to the museum garden thing going on. Very very special place! * * * Note: at the time of this review, Welkinweir is not open on weekends. Weekdays only! * * * Note: They offer afterhours guided nature walks throughout the year (including winter).

Beautiful spot. Huge park…read more Multiple play grounds. Chambers lake- public access Camping Well maintained clean bathrooms Volleyball courts Lots of trails Horse trailer parking to ride horses through the trails

Do not camp here. They lock the gates so it's impossible to leave in emergency or for any reason…read more Gates are secured shut with 2 padlocks. Only way out is to call 911. Incompetence at its finest. Pending lawsuit is underway due to this negligence.

NOTE: Google gives the address of "Spring Water Ln" for this preserve, however, the only access I…read moreknow of is off of 252 (explained below). I am not sure exactly when this land opened as a preserve, although by the new empty bulletin board, and lack of parking lot or signage, I am guessing it is pretty recent. I learned of Newtown Meadow Preserve only because I saw it listed as a location for twilight meditations through Newtown Square Friends Meeting. Ohhh, that's what that long driveway between Episcopal and Liseter is! This preserve is a 50-acre parcel that I guess was a conciliatory part of the agreement when the grotesquely large development of Liseter was approved. At the entrance, and at various points from the meadow trail, you can see the sprawl of townhomes, but deeper into the property, that view does fade into nature. The views of Episcopal, thankfully, fade too. (The trail that circles the perimeter of the Liseter development, does segue with the preserve, allowing residents easy access to it.) The preserve's trail is indicated simply by mowed lawn, amidst the tall wild grasses. There are small portions of gravel in places where terrain is difficult to navigate without it, or near any small bridge, etc. There is boardwalk area over wetland spots. Otherwise, this is a meadow walk on grass. I did not see any preserve rules, but I would assume bikes are not allowed. This is a field atmosphere, for sure, with very little tree cover, so be aware in the summer months, that you will be hiking in direct sun. While it's a bunch of meadows, they are hilly meadows, and you will be climbing some decent inclines. During bug season, there are BUGS! It would be nice if future plans included the release of nematodes or a bat house to control bug population. As mentioned above, the entrance I used was the long driveway directly off of Route 252 / Newtown Street Road, between Liseter and Episcopal. It gets tricky how to access it. - First, you cannot make a left into the driveway if you are headed north on 252. - Headed north, you will have to proceed to the circle at St. David's Rd, making your way around to the left, then under the overpass, then back onto 252 south. BEFORE your lane merges with 252, the driveway will be on your right. - Headed south on 252, you need to hang right at the split by Episcopal, down to the traffic light at St. David's Rd, and then proceed forward as though merging back onto 252. Again, as above, BEFORE your lane merges with 252, the driveway is on the right. - I recommend going slowly after the light at Episcopal. The driveway is EASY TO MISS if you are not familiar with the area. I have taken photos to show what you're looking for. Again, no signage as of the time of this review. - If you are familiar with the historic octagonal schoolhouse, the driveway is a smidge past that. There is currently no parking lot for the preserve. The road just dead ends, with preserve entrance on the left, and an access road for Episcopal on the right. I parked on the grass near the preserve trailhead, which is hard to see from the road, because it's behind a hedge of trees. As mentioned on the township's website, this land is part of the Ridley Creek State Park watershed, and is important to bird wildlife. The township plans to remove invasive species, with the aid of Simone Collins Landscape Architects. So, while open and available for use, this preserve is still in transition. Hopefully a parking lot and signage will happen in short order. NOTE: When exiting the preserve onto 252, you cannot make a left. If headed north, you'll have to turn around farther down the road. Not-so-fun Fact: This preserve is on the former John DuPont "Foxcatcher Farm" estate, where he resisted arrest after murdering Olympian, Dave Schultz, in 1996.

Binky Lee Preserve in Chester Springs is a very picturesque and peaceful preserve. Like all Natural…read moreLands properties, it is very clean (free of litter), and trails are well maintained. The parking lot is paved, but is a little cramped, and can fill up easily because it's not very big, and this seems to be a more popular preserve. Other visitors here were friendly and many had dogs, but everyone respected leash rules and picked up after their dog. There are a number of inclines, so while the meadow is normally easy walking, the areas where it gets hilly are too steep to recommend this for disabled people (other NL preserves are good for that). This was, however, an easy enough walk for kids and dogs. You are perched up on a hillside, when you reach the apex of the meadow, and the views are very cool of nearby "mountains" of Chester Springs. down the hill, there is a wooded area with some bridges and an old stone springhouse, etc. as bucolic scenery. It is a very picturesque preserve, great for photos.

This place is a hidden little gem, great for walking your dog and trying out a new place to enjoy…read more It doesn't have a proper path, it feels a bit more like a hike than a trail walk, but certainly worth the time to just get to know a bit more of our beautiful Chester county landscape!

Visited: Sunday - November 15, 2015 - 10:00AM…read more The "first-to-review" of P E. is spot on. Armed with a cup of hot coffee and bathed in warm sunny day, I visited this tranquil oasis. My lady friend and I walked around and through the park in a leisurely fashion. The bright sun reflected off the lake in blinding but welcoming fashion. As we walked, a flock of geese, majestically landed in virtual unison. We returned to the car carefully avoiding the little "gifts' left on the ground by the feathered flock.

This is a wonderful park nestled in the borough of Ridley Park. Fish off of the dock or the shore,…read moreor just enjoy the walk around the lake. There is 14 acres to enjoy. It's right next to a school so you might want to avoid it during certain hours if you are seeking peace and tranquility near the lake's fountain. There are lots of Canada geese here so look out for lots of droppings during certain times of the year.