Join us for our celebratory final concert in Glen Providence Park! As we announced this spring, Friends of Glen Providence Park is working to wind down our organization by the end of 2024. After thirteen years of programming, including dozens of wonderful concerts, this will be our last performance at the stage.

We‘re planning a festive affair to celebrate our thirteen years of events, education, advocacy, and stewardship in Glen Providence Park!

Enjoy an afternoon performance at the historical concert stage, then walk two blocks into town for dinner and shopping on State Street. Check out our full poster below…

Mark your calendars:

New Orleans & Caribbean Music with Gumbo Nouveau, featuring Nadine Lafond!
Saturday, September 14, 5:00-6:30pm
rain date Sunday, September 15

At the Glen Providence Park stage
Main entrance, 550 W. State St., Media, PA

Gumbo Nouveau is a Philadelphia-based band that performs music rooted in the traditions of New Orleans and Caribbean jazz. Their sound incorporates elements of traditional jazz, second line, reggae, calypso, samba, South African jazz, Afrobeat, and more. Featured vocalist Nadine LaFond’s unique sound is informed by her Haitian American heritage.

Thank you:

Thank you to our Summer Concert Sponsors Media Recreation Board, State Street Pub, Seven Stones Gallery, and Shere-e-Punjab; and to Delaware County Parks & Recreation, without whose support these concerts would not be possible. 

General Logistics:

• As with every event we have presented for thirteen years(!), this is free and family-friendly!
• Concert is at the Glen Providence Park Stage, downhill from the main entrance on State Street in Media. For Google Maps, use 550 West State Street, Media.
• Rain date is Sunday, September 15. If the rain date is used, the decision will be posted by 2:00pm Saturday on our website and Facebook. 
• Seating is on the lawn – bring your blanket or chair!
• There is a parking lot at the State Street entrance and along State Street and West Street.
• We encourage you to walk or take public transportation: the main entrance is just 2 blocks from the end of the Media trolley line, or less than a .6 mile walk from the Media train station.

Further reading…

• Read about the decades of concerts in the park, from 1937 to the 1970’s.
• Recaps and photos from our past concerts.
• Read about our September 2011 project to restore the concert stage.

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Friends of Glen Providence Park started in July 2011 in response to the threat from the proposed replacement of a high-hazard dam and vehicular road at Third Street, which would have destroyed 1.1 serene and wooded acres of the park. We advocated extensively for 12 years to minimize harm to the glen’s woods, wetlands, plants, and wildlife. As the dam has been removed, and Media Borough currently plans a pedestrian-bicycle bridge at Third Street – with stream restoration upstream at Broomall’s Lake Country Club (BLCC) –  we have the following observations, concerns, and requests: 

Environmental & Historical Considerations

Broomall’s Run is a connected ecosystem, encompassing Broomall’s Lake Country Club upstream and Glen Providence Park downstream: 

• Project will impact water quality and  stream health in the park, and its 19 reptile & amphibian, 130 bird, and 58+ tree species 
• The park’s acre abutting the bridge is a rich habitat with  natural springs, seeps, and wetlands, and 76 mature trees
• County’s Conservation Easement with BLCC – meant to protect the connected ecosystem and the park – is not mentioned in the contractors’ proposals and should be prioritized

Glen Providence Park is a historic and natural resource for Delaware County, Media Borough, and Upper Providence: 

• Donated in 1935 as a bird sanctuary and arboretum
• Structures and trails built by  Works Progress Administration 
• Park determined eligible for National Historic Register in 2002 
• This historic and natural setting should be reflected in the project design

Borough stormwater management and resulting erosion: 

• Stream erosion from stormwater runoff at Third Street is arguably one of the biggest current threats to the park
• The resulting large downed trees and undercut trails and streambanks create environmental and safety issues
• This critically important issue, which is omitted from the project parameters for the Third Street Bridge, should be addressed

Design Process & Public Participation

The Third Street Project is a state-funded transportation project, with PennDOT requiring:

• Analysis of alternative designs based on minimizing harm to adjacent park
• Public participation in design reviews

PennDOT’s definition of Key Stakeholders:

• Extends beyond property owners
• Includes environmental advocates, park and trail users
• Considers the plant and animal life in the project area

Public input is valuable:

• Offers resources, perspective and experience
• Fosters public support during construction
• Informs project manager’s expectations of professional team

The public should be regularly updated on the project progress, timeline, and the contractors’ monthly status reports through:

• Borough Website and newsletter
• Council Workshop or Legislative Meetings
• Special Public Hearings 

We ask that Media Borough Council actively consider and protect Glen Providence Park in the design and construction of the Third Street Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge.

——————

You can view and download our handout below.

There is much more information about the Third Street Project on our website:

• Background and updates: https://glenprovidencepark.org/3rd-street-bridge-dam/
• Articles in our Dam/Bridge Category: https://glenprovidencepark.org/category/3rd-street-dam-bridge-media/

Look for developments over the next 18 to 24 months on the Media Borough website:

• Third Street Status Reports: https://www.mediaborough.com/336/Third-Street-Status-Reports
• Third Street Pedestrian Bridge Information: https://www.mediaborough.com/337/Third-Street-Pedestrian-Bridge-Informati

The decision, which was announced last night at their June 15th meeting, followed a review of cost estimates, consultation with first responders and in-house professionals, and previous community surveys. Borough Council will work with state agencies, representatives of Delaware County and Broomall’s Lake Country Club to develop a preliminary design all can agree on. The public will be invited to comment following the presentation of the design which may take up to 24 months.

Borough Council will additionally seek the services of an environmental professional to advise on the restoration of Broomall’s Run stream, particularly the methods used to slow the stream following the removal of the remnants of the dam. Friends of Glen Providence Park and Media Borough’s own Environmental Advisory Council had requested this independent environmental review. Friends of Glen Providence Park believes a streamside forest buffer may be the most natural and cost-effective solution.

While the road ahead has many considerations, Friends of Glen Providence Park applauds this decision for an environmentally-sensitive connection between Media and Upper Providence. We still believe a participatory process with the public will help this pedestrian-bicycle bridge fit the vision of the Media-UP community and become a celebrated success.

Background:

• History of the Third Street dam/bridge
• Roads have significant negative environmental and human health impacts
• Building more roads to ease traffic has the opposite effect within 5 years
• Green spaces and green gathering areas increase human mental and physical health, strengthen communities and benefit the other-than-human environment, while boosting economic activity and increasing home values
• Environmentally-sensitive growth is supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency, who terms it “Smart Growth” and has a national initiative

Media Borough, with participation from PennDOT’s Cultural Resources Management, has undertaken a revision of the sidewalks at the main State Street entrance of Glen Providence Park. Attention was paid to replicate the original slate pavers while updating the infrastructure and maintaining the historical bluestone walls, built in the 1930s through the WPA. We’re grateful for this update in advance of the summer season at Glen Providence Park. 

Announcing… Friends of Glen Providence Park’s 2023 free summer concerts right in Media, PA! For our eleventh year of performances we offer musical variety with a Classical Flute Ensemble; New and Used Vintage Blues; Sacred Sounds; and Roots Music Panorama!

Enjoy an afternoon performance on the lawn in front of the historical concert stage, then walk two blocks into town for dinner and shopping on State Street. Check out our full poster below!

Thank you:

This summer’s Arts in the Park was made possible by funding from Program Stream, a grant initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts that is regionally administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Thank you to our Summer Series Sponsors Media Recreation Board ; Performance Sponsors Sterling Pig Brewery, Seven Stones Gallery, State Street Pub, and Shere-e-Punjab; and to Delaware County Parks & Recreation, without whose support these concerts would not be possible. 

General Logistics:

• Free and family-friendly!
• Performances are at the Glen Providence Park Stage, downhill from the main entrance on State Street in Media.
• Rain dates are the Sunday after each scheduled performance. If the rain date is used, the decision will be posted by 2:00pm Saturday on our website and Facebook. Updated to 2:00 as of our July concert.
• Seating is on the lawn – bring your blanket or chair!
• There is a parking lot at the State Street entrance and along State Street and West Street.
• We encourage you to walk or take public transportation: the main entrance is just 2 blocks from the end of the Media trolley line, or less than a .6 mile walk from the Media train station.

More details on each performance coming soon!

• See our Calendar for individual event listings.
• Read about the decades of concerts in the park, from 1937 to the 1970’s.
• Read recaps and see photos from our past concerts.
• Read about our September 2011 project to restore the concert stage.

Friends of Glen Providence Park welcomes the finalized conservation easement agreement between Delaware County and Broomall’s Lake Country Club. 

With the replacement of the dam and two lane roadway no longer required, Media Borough and Upper Providence residents are free to pursue a 21st century connection between the two communities.

Research suggests a pedestrian/bicycle greenway would have the least negative impact on the park’s ecosystem and would provide the safest access for park users. 

Friends of Glen Providence Park looks forward to participating in the site development plans and are asking for assurances that future construction and management of the area meet regulatory requirements, as well as best environmental practices. 

This includes obtaining the services of a professional team most able to restore and protect Broomall’s Run and to collaborate with the County’s efforts in the adjacent conservation area. 

March 2023

Research suggests a pedestrian/bicycle greenway would have the least negative impact on the park’s ecosystem and would provide the safest access for park users. 

If audience engagement is any indicator, The Cheddar Boys’ appearance on September 10 at the Glen Providence Park stage – on a perfect late summer evening – was a roaring success.

With covers of such wildly varied fan favorite artists Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Rocky Top), Fleetwood Mac (Dreams/Thunder Only Happens) and John Hartford (Steam Powered Airplane), the “Boys” had the crowd swaying, dancing and occasionally singing along.

Their low key, “old timey” stage banter belied the band’s musical chops, perfect harmonies and ultra tight arrangements highlighted in selections like Wild Horses (Rolling Stones) and Policeman (Anonymous – Americana).

The Cheddar Boys provided the perfect coda to the 2022 Arts in the Park concert season produced by the all-volunteer Friends of Glen Providence Park.

You can see their performance on YouTube (also linked below) thanks to volunteer Carol Carmon.

Many thanks to all who made this concert possible: Delaware County Parks & Recreation; a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Concert Series Sponsors Media Recreation Board and West End Flats; Concert Sponsor Sterling Pig Brewery; our volunteer Concert Committee; the more than 275 people who attended; and of course The Cheddar Boys!

Our 2022 Arts in the Park was made possible by funding from Program Stream, a grant initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts that is regionally administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Click on any photo for a closer look!

Photos by George Tate, video by Carol Carmon

An imposing 13’ wide crimson umbrella sheltered singer-songwriter Jim Boggia from the mid-summer sun in a cloudless late afternoon sky as he serenaded the 175+ person audience from the historic Glen Providence Park stage. The evening of August 13 was a spectacular, cool, and breezy respite from the recent heat wave, and Jim Boggia’s gentle acoustic set fit the mood perfectly.

Jim opened with a sweet, slow, original ballad This Is It followed by the pop-rocker Johnny’s Going Down that picked up the pace a bit.

The finger-picked melody of On Your Birthday put on display some of Jim’s musical influences – Simon & Garfunkel, Harry Nilsson, Cat Stevens, and Brian Wilson – but most especially the Beatles. Jim has performed in various Beatles tribute concerts, and, most dramatically, a re-creation in Center City Philadelphia of their famous rooftop concert.

Jim’s beautifully executed performance roused round after round of applause from the crowd, being well matched to the likes of the audience and the personality of Glen Providence Park.

You can see his performance on YouTube (also linked below) thanks to volunteer Carol Carmon.

Many thanks to all who made this concert possible: Delaware County Parks & Recreation; a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Concert Series Sponsors Media Recreation Board and West End Flats; Concert Sponsor Dos Gringos Mexican Kitchen; our volunteer Concert Committee; the well over 175 people who attended; and of course Jim Boggia!

Our 2022 Arts in the Park was made possible by funding from Program Stream, a grant initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts that is regionally administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Click on any photo for a closer look!

It was a perfect clear and breezy spring evening on June 4 for the Blackbird Society Orchestra’s return to the Glen Providence Park. The park’s historic WPA-era stage was absolutely the ideal venue to host Blackbird’s 1930’s era big band jazz and kickoff the Friends of Glen Providence Park’s 2022 Arts in the Park season.

Opening with the theme song from the Little Rascals shorts, the orchestra swung right into Roaring 20’s numbers Happy Days Are Here Again and Bessy Couldn’t Help It – reproduced note for note from the original 78rpm recordings.

The Louis Armstrong 30’s hit Mahogany Hall Stomp and That’s My Baby Now by the The Nighthawk Jazz Band nailed the sound and tempo of the flapper era to a “T”.

The band, the audience and the glen came together for another beautiful evening of entertaining music here in Everybody’s Park in  Everybody’s Home Town.

You can see their performance on YouTube (also linked below) thanks to volunteer Carol Carmon. In ten seasons of concerts, Blackbird Society Orchestra is the first performer we have brought back! You can see photos and a recap from their 2015 concert.

Many thanks to all who made this concert possible: Delaware County Parks & Recreation; a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Concert Series Sponsors Media Recreation Board and West End Flats; Concert Sponsor Shere-E-Punjab Indian Restaurant; our volunteer Concert Committee; the well over 250 people who attended; and of course Blackbird Society Orchestra!

Our 2022 Arts in the Park was made possible by funding from Program Stream, a grant initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts that is regionally administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Click on any photo for a closer look!

Announcing… Friends of Glen Providence Park’s 2022 Arts in the Park! We have another great mix for our tenth year of performances, with 20s Jazz; A Cappella; Beatlesque Pop; and Bluegrass!

At the Glen Providence Park stage
Main entrance, 550 W. State St., Media, PA
Saturdays: 5:00-6:30pm
with Sunday rain dates

Enjoy an afternoon performance at the historical concert stage, then walk two blocks into town for dinner and shopping on State Street. Check out our full poster below…

Mark your calendars!

Roaring 20s Jazz with Blackbird Society Orchestra
Saturday, June 4

Nothin’ But Voice with A Cappella Pops – CANCELED**
Saturday, July 16

Melodic Beatlesque Pop with Jim Boggia
Saturday, August 13

Old-Timey Modern Bluegrass with The Cheddar Boys 
Saturday, September 10

Thank you:

This summer’s Arts in the Park was made possible by funding from Program Stream, a grant initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts that is regionally administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Thank you to our Summer Series Sponsors Media Recreation Board and West End Flats; Performance Sponsors Shere-e-Punjab, Seven Stones Gallery, Dos Gringos, and Sterling Pig Brewery; and to Delaware County Parks & Recreation, without whose support these concerts would not be possible. 

General Logistics:

• Free and family-friendly!
• Performances are at the Glen Providence Park Stage, downhill from the main entrance on State Street in Media.
• Rain dates are the Sunday after each scheduled performance. If the rain date is used, the decision will be posted by 2:00pm Saturday on our website and Facebook. 
• Seating is on the lawn – bring your blanket or chair!
• There is a parking lot at the State Street entrance and along State Street and West Street.
• We encourage you to walk or take public transportation: the main entrance is just 2 blocks from the end of the Media trolley line, or less than a .6 mile walk from the Media train station.

More details on each performance coming soon!

• See our Calendar for individual event listings.
• Read about the decades of concerts in the park, from 1937 to the 1970’s.
• Read recaps and see photos from our past concerts.
• Read about our September 2011 project to restore the concert stage.

**The A Cappella Pops concert was canceled due to the probability of thunderstorms on both Saturday and Sunday. We hope to reschedule it for later in the summer!