The Pollinator Park is a 14-acre, restoration project that will serve as a refuge for pollinators, especially native bees and nonnative honey bees. The former Holtwood Park also serves as the trailhead of the nationally recognized Kellys Run Trail (as part of the Conestoga Trail system). The Pollinator Park project is inspired by transition: an ecological transition from meadows to woods-edge to forest and a transition from active to passive recreation. The park includes mixed meadows and pollinator-friendly demonstration areas filled with pollen and nectar rich flower sources to support a diversity of wildlife and for use as a localized seed source. In 2018, the Conservancy partnered with Smucker’s Fields of Honey for conversion of this preserve to sustain honey-bee hives and enhance pollinator services for local farmers. Thanks to partners, nearly 5,000 native plant plugs and over 125 lbs. of conservation seed for a pollinator-friendly meadows have been planted to restore this preserve.
Phase I and II of Pollinator Park implementation are on-going and include: the removal of fences, buildings, and driveways; incorporating green infrastructure to address storm-water runoff from municipal and state roads; over-seeding of baseball fields; tree plantings; and installation of a visitors’ hub. Later phases of the project are proposed to include restoration of utility corridors as an extension of the pollinator meadows.
