Restoration Projects

Rock Creek Streamside Buffer Restoration

With larger and more frequent storms due to climate change, a healthy streamside buffer is one way to naturally protect our land, our streams, and our drinking water.

Healthy streamside buffers (trees, shrubs, and other plants):

  • Absorb flood waters, which can make downstream flooding less serious
  • Shade and cool the stream, which is essential for fish and other aquatic life
  • Help prevent streambank erosion, which reduces stream health
  • Filter pollution from stormwater runoff that flows into Rock Creek and then becomes part of the Philadelphia drinking water

Curtis Arboretum includes a key section of Rock Creek and handles substantial stormwater drainage through the ponds. In 2019, many of the wooded areas of the park, especially along the creek, were covered with invasive species that were killing the largest canopy trees.

Since that time, our volunteers have painstakingly dug out vines, thorny rose bushes, and other invasive plants and planted, protected, and watered more than 1,000 new trees and shrubs.

Bioswale Restoration

A PECO Green Region Open Space Program grant, with matching funds from Cheltenham Township, allowed for a study of the conditions of the ponds and the purchase of various native plants to replace grass along the bioswale and create a riparian buffer. (Scroll to info above for a list of the benefits of riparian buffers.)

A “bioswale” is a vegetated, shallow, linear trench or depression in the landscape that collects and filters stormwater runoff. There is a creek between the two ponds at Curtis. In 2018, excess paving and concrete piping were removed to “daylight” a new stream next to the parking lot closest to Rock Creek.

World War II Memorial Restoration

The memorial had been rededicated, but was already overcome with weeds, especially along the pond. Old barberry (a known tick haven) was removed. A formal frame of shrubbery and flowers was added and water plants installed pond-side to reduce erosion.

The WWII plaque lists Cheltenham residents who were killed in the war. If you turn around and face away from the plaque, there was a tree planted for every soldier who fell, and many are still thriving in the CAVOR grove (Curtis Arboretum Valley of Remembrance).

Entrance Gardens

Grand entry gates deserve a formal garden — the Friends designed, created, and maintain new perennial gardens at the Church Road and the Washington Lane entrances.

Public Education: Environmental, Historical

As the Friends work with the property, we keep in touch with our community with news via email and social media, postal mail to immediate neighbors, surveys, events, and exhibits at other township functions to describe the restoration efforts listed on this page.

Friends are also researching the history of the estate, and have unearthed blueprints and more from sources including the official Olmsted Archives.

Learn More

Many thanks to our sponsors.

Send us a message if you’d like to volunteer or have a question: Email info@curtisfriends.net 

Donate money to support the baby trees.