The 80-acre parcel of woods next to Keystone Elementary School in Croydon, was once notorious for being a dumping ground and site for off-roading, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY.
Now, Croydon Woods has transformed into a nature preserve, thanks to community efforts and the Heritage Conservancy.
This forest, one of Pennsylvania’s last coastal plain forests, is home to diverse wildlife and vegetation.
The preserve now features 1.5 miles of trails and serves as an educational site for Keystone Elementary students, who actively participate in conservation efforts.
Despite its surface beauty, Croydon Woods faces challenges from its contaminated groundwater, a remnant of past chemical manufacturing.
The EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have been working to reduce the carcinogenic TCE levels, aiming to make the area safe in the long term.
Read more about how the community is benefiting from the Croydon woods transformation in WHYY.
Volunteers Making A Difference: Heritage Conservancy’s Croydon Woods Nature Preserve
