Lorimer lived in the Wyncote section of Cheltenham Lorimer livedintheWyncote sectionof Cheltenham Made Merchant tohisSon bookof shortstories,LettersofaSelf- Lorimer’s F. ScottFitzgerald. An authorinhisownright, Christie, WilliamFaulkner, JackLondon,and of thetimeincluding:Norman Rockwell, Agatha with, andpromoted,famous artistsandauthors magazines intheentirecountry. Heassociated Credit: Library of Congress, ©Ellis editor, andloverofnature.Frommodest Kentucky in1867.Hewasanauthor, journalist, George HoraceLorimerwasborninLouisville, George H.Lorimer outdoor recreation. and flora,aswellacenterpieceforpassive acres tobecomea230-acresanctuaryforwildlife opened in1938andhasgrownfromtheinitial132 George H.Lorimeruponhisdeathin1936.It County tobeusedasapublicparkbybenefactor Lorimer ParkwasdedicatedtoMontgomery History from 7:00a.m.tosunset. programs throughouttheyearandisopendaily opportunities andenvironmentaleducation visitors withmanypassiverecreational meadows, creeks,andtrails. The parkprovides Abington Township, itis230acresofwoodlands, Sites. LocatednearthePhiladelphiaborderin by MontgomeryCountyParks, Trails &Historic Lorimer Parkistheeasternmostfacilityoperated LORIMER PARK LORIMER PARK becameabest seller. successful weekly one ofthemost publication into the struggling Post. Heturned Saturday Evening in-Chief ofThe to becomeEditor- Yale, Lorimerrose short timeattending plant, andaftera at ameatpacking beginnings working “for littlegirls”isstillbeingenjoyedbyall. Lorimer wouldbeproudthathisvisionofapark and enjoynatureinallitsbeauty. George Horace life, andallowsanindividualtoslowdown,relax, visitors fromthenoiseandcongestionofurban suburbia. The parkprovidesanaturalescapefor remains anoasisofwoodlandsinthemiddle be possible.” to bekept“inasnearlyitsnaturalstateshall the parkcanneverbecommercializedandis public fortheirobservationandstudy. As such, native plantsandanimalstobeopenthe He intendedtheparktobeusedasahomefor the enjoymentofitsnaturalbeauty.” his motheranddaughter(bothnamedBelle) County. Hedirectedthattheparkbededicatedto death thepropertybedeededovertoMontgomery loved King’s Oakthathearrangeduponhis started sellingoff mostoftheproperties.Heso land youfarm,thelessmoneylose” After afewyearshesoonrealizedthat actor DeWolf Hopper. Whitcomb RileyandMaryRobertsRinehart, such asPresidentHerbertHoover, authorsJames a weekendretreatandtoentertainfamousfriends King’s Oak.LorimerusedtheKing’s Oakestateas Holy RedeemerandLorimerPark,whichhecalled what isnowthepropertiesofSisters accumulating about2,000acres. This landincluded farmland intheHuntingdonValley area,eventually Township. Intheearly1900shepurchased and fee. Also, certain restrictions applysuch as other activities mayrequireaSpecialUse Permit and tablesare first-come,first-served. However, picnicking, although groupsizeislimited to50 adjacent tothepicnicarea. There isnofeefor Modern restroomsandalarge activityfieldare tables andgrills;perfectfor afamilyouting. The parkhasasmall,shaded picnicareawith Picnicking After alltheseyears,LorimerPark “the less andhe “for Trails Derby and Clinic. Children have the opportunity to Derby and Clinic.Children havethe opportunity to along with Trout Unlimited,hostaKid’s Fishing bait, lureorfly. Eachspringthe localRotaryClub, numerous spots, or‘holes’ where youcancastyour . Along thewaythereare south, whereitcontinueson intoPhiladelphia’s north endandwindsitsway toPineRoadinthe extends fromOldHuntingdon Pikeatthepark’s catfish, carp,andtheoccasional bass. TheCreek beyond troutseasonanglerscanstillcatchpanfish, rules andregulationsapply. Oncethewaterwarms during normalparkhoursandallPAFBC licensing, (PAFBC) fourtimes ayear. Fishingmaytakeplace with troutbythePA Fish&BoatCommission For theangler, thePennypack Creekisstocked Fishing Welsh Road andByberryRoadtrailheads. available attheLorimerParklot,aswell wheelchairs andbabycarriages.Parkingis is smoothandlevelenoughformostbicycles, Although notpaved,thecrushedstonesurface Byberry RoadinLowerMoreland Township. miles fromRockledge,throughBryn Athyn, to opening in2009,thisrailtrailnowextends5½ . Withthefirsttwo-milesection races. Additionally, adjacenttotheparkis Park trailsystemforcross-countrytrainingand high schoolsandcollegesusetheLorimer and leadtoscenicoverlooks. A numberoflocal through thedeepwoods,parallelcoolstreams, hilly andratedasmoderatetodifficult. Theywind trails areeasilywalkable,butafewsections horseback riding,andcross-countryskiing.Most multiuse trailsforhiking,mountainbiking, Park visitorscanenjoyoversixmilesofinternal park officeformoreinformation,215-947-3477. beverages andsmokingareprohibited.Callthe music. And, aswithallCountyfacilities,alcoholic DJ’s, PA systems,orloudelectronicproduced no MoonBounces,largeplayitems,livebands, their skillsinthisfriendlyfishingevent. learn howtofishfromlocal‘experts’ andthenapply open year-round! parents: the modern restroomsareheated and best familysledding hillsinthearea! A noteto skiing, andsledding.Lorimer Parkhasoneofthe such ashiking,snowshoeing, cross-country visitors canenjoymanyrecreational opportunities Park. Whenitsnowsthescenery isbeautiful,and Winter isoneofthebestseasons tovisitLorimer Winter Activities ask fortheEnvironmentalEducator. org/pths. You mayalsocall610-270-0215and out theCalendarofEventsatwww.montcopa. grade. Forafulllistofpublicprograms,check long naturedaycampforchildrenfrom2ndto6th Park alsohostsJuniorNaturalistCamp,aweek- Plants’, ‘CreekCritters’,and‘LeafPrint Art’. The ‘Birding Adventures’, ‘WildEdible&Medicinal for theholidays.Pastprogramshaveincluded: the wondersofLorimerPark,ormakeacraft variety ofnature-relatedtopics.Comediscover year byourstaff EnvironmentalEducatorona Interpretive programsareoffered throughoutthe Environmental Education Park asanofficialIBA (ImportantBird Area). National Audubon SocietyhasdesignatedLorimer schedule. All youneedisapairofbinoculars! The weekends. Seethecalendarofeventsfor usually thethird Tuesday ofthemonthandsome Audubon Societyholdsregularguidedbirdwalks, songbirds, raptors,andwaterfowl. The Wyncote from amateurtohardcorecanviewspeciesof foxes, raccoons,rabbits,andgroundhogs.Birders morning oreveningwalksmayobservedeer, a largevarietyofbirdsandwildlife. Those taking surrounded byurbansprawl,LorimerParkattracts As anislandofwoods,meadows,andstreams Wildlife Viewing ounty issioners C mm o ery Chair m C Vice Chair Vice of Commissioner

Joseph C. Gale ontgo M oard Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. B Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, Valerie MPH @montcopa.org

LORIMER PARK M o n t g o m e ry C o u n t y , P ennsylvania Montgomery County Division of Parks, Trails, & Historic Sites Montgomery County Division of Parks, Trails, Printed on Recycled Paper • December 2019 Contact Information for Lorimer Park 183 Moredon Road 19006 Huntingdon Valley, Phone/Reservations: 215.947.3477 Fax: 215.947.9708 Email: lorimerpark www.montcopa.org/pths This This The Pennypack natural surface | EASY | EASY MODERATE (with short, steep (with short, steep MODERATE This trail is a well-kept secret in the | This Central Park section trail leads visitors This Central Park section trail leads visitors | natural surface | crushed stone surface | TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS TRAIL – 5.5 miles (total current length) Pennypack Trail | to the popular and majestic Council Rock, the to the popular and majestic Council Rock, centerpiece of Lorimer Park. It is a rising trail that rewards ambitious hikers with an unparalleled view of the picnic area and activity field. Legend has it that Council Rock was a meeting place of the Lenni Lenape in the 16th and 17th centuries. – 1.9 miles (full loop) from South Park Loop Trail the parking lot kiosk and back | (with some long hills) | to MODERATE EASY popular trail weaves through the wooded, internal South Park section of the park and comes out beautiful scenery It offers into an open meadow. The terrain rises alongside creeks and huge trees. This trail offers and falls onto hills small valleys. a panoramic view of the adjacent Fox Chase Farm, which is especially colorful in the fall. hills) Trail is a level rail-trail located along the western is a level rail-trail located along the western Trail edge of Lorimer Park. Converted from the SEPTA Fox Chase-Newtown Branch line, this trail runs from Rockledge Borough north to Byberry Road in Lower It provides scenic views of the Township. Moreland and woodlands of the park. , cliffs, The southern portion of the trail connects to miles internal hiking trails and in the north Lorimer Park’s Trust. trails of the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Local connections include access to and from Lower and Township, Upper Moreland Township, Moreland Athyn Borough. Parking is available at Welsh Bryn Road and Byberry Road. Road – .75 miles one way North Park Trail/Service from the Moreland Road entrance to Pennypack to DIFFICULT Creek | natural surface MODERATE (with steep hills) North Park section of the park and suggested to visitors who are experienced and adventurous. Surrounded by woodlands, this trail is an uphill/downhill trek that provides striking vistas and a serene atmosphere. fox, and turkeys populate this Wildlife, including deer, less used section of the park. Parking for this trail is with foot Avenue, along Moreland Road and Packard access at the stone pillared gate. – .3 miles one way starting at Council Rock Trail Bridge to the pinnacle of Council Rock Michael’s | may may trails trails usually a wider, more more usually a wider,

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