How Croydon Woods became a conservation success story

The 80-acre woodland park near Keystone Primary School in Croydon was once famous for being a dumping ground and off-roading site, writes Peter Crimmins for WHY.

Now, Croydon Woods has been transformed into a nature reserve, thanks to the efforts of the community and the Heritage Conservancy.

This forest, one of the last remaining coastal plain forests in Pennsylvania, is home to diverse wildlife and vegetation.

The preserve now has 2.5 miles of trails and serves as an educational site for students at Keystone Elementary, who actively participate in conservation efforts.

Despite its surface beauty, Croydon Woods faces challenges from contaminated groundwater, a holdover from past chemical production.

The EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have been working to reduce carcinogenic levels of TCE with the goal of making the area safe in the long term.

Read more about how Croydon’s woodland transformation is benefiting the community WHY.

Volunteers making a difference: Heritage Conservancy’s Croydon Woods Nature Reserve