{"id":6072,"date":"2016-02-25T12:41:15","date_gmt":"2016-02-25T17:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/?p=6072"},"modified":"2016-02-25T14:52:02","modified_gmt":"2016-02-25T19:52:02","slug":"an-80th-anniversary-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/2016\/02\/25\/an-80th-anniversary-year\/","title":{"rendered":"An 80th Anniversary Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

2015 was the 80th Anniversary year for Glen Providence Park!<\/strong> In 1935, prominent Media Borough residents George and Eleanor Reed Butler<\/strong> donated the majority of land for Glen Providence, which would be the first park in the Delaware County system. The Butlers donated the park as a b<\/strong>ird sanctuary and arboretum<\/strong>, and specified in the deed they signed on July 24, 1935 that the land be kept \u201cin as natural a condition as possible.\u201d <\/em>Eleanor named Glen Providence \u201cbecause of its glen-like formation and as it is located in the heart of the Providence townships.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It was on Halloween 1935 when James Stokes, the first park guard, began work on the park<\/strong> under the Works Progress Administration (WPA),<\/strong> a depression-era jobs program. The WPA built all original park structures, including the entrances, the pavilion, several footbridges, and the concert stage.<\/p>\n

The day after the park opened, an article in the Chester Times beckoned the public: \u201cCome with your bird glasses, your flower guides, your tree books. Bring the school children and scout groups, and let Nature teach them her ancient lessons.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>Glen Providence has hosted decades of events and activities<\/a><\/strong> including nature walks, birdwatching, scouting events, skating, sledding, fishing, fireworks, concerts, Haunted Woods, and the Great Media Easter Egg Hunt!<\/p>\n

In 2015, we celebrated and honored the first 80 years of Delaware County\u2019s first park. In addition to our regular monthly events:<\/strong><\/p>\n