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Ithan Valley Park
1. Address:642 South Ithan Ave.
  Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
2. Phone:(610) 688-5600
Amenities:
1. Dogs Allowed
2. Environmental Area
3. Nature Trail
4. Pond / Stream
Categories:
1. Parks
2. Trails

Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Acres: 20.5
Ward: 5
GPS Coordinates: 40 00.692N, 075 21.298W

History

Once known as Grow Tract, Ithan Valley Park was part of an old estate owned by John Evans that was donated to the Township for use as a park when the Blue Route was constructed in 1973. In the 18th & 19th centuries, a family mill and farm was run on the land. Remnants of an old mill are located near the parking area. The site was transformed in the 1900’s into a grand estate known as Timberline. Both the owners of the mill and estate were keenly interested in botany and collected trees from both North America and the Old World. The Ithan Valley Tree Identification Committee was formed to identify which trees were either old enough to have been part of the original collection or seedlings of those trees. There are 22 species identified and are roughly located going up the old driveway from what is now the parking area. They include White Oak, Fir, Tulip, Sugar Maple, Magnolia, Buckeye, False Cypress, and Cork, to name a few. In the mid 1800’s, prior to being turned into an estate, Ithan Valley Park was regarded as one of the most significant botanical sites in the United States. In 2011, the Friends of Ithan Valley Park was formed to celebrate the history of the park and begin a preservation effort. The Friends have been working on various projects to enhance the park and call attention to its heritage as an arboretum and its historical trees.

Features & Amenities

Located off South Ithan Avenue, Ithan Valley Park contains a hiking trail and a nature area. The Ithan Creek runs through the length of the park and fishing is permitted for all ages. Those under 15 years of age need a permit from the township building. This 19 acre park is also one of the pick up sites for free leaf compost mulch that is provided by Radnor Township. Dog walking is also permitted. With stately trees and natural shrubbery, Ithan Valley Park is a great place to hike, fish, or simply enjoy being outdoors.

View Ithan Valley Park Improvements from the Friends of Ithan Valley Park

The Big Trees

Ithan Valley Park is a remnant piece of an old estate which was left when the Blue Route was put together. A mill predated the estate, remains of which are located near the parking area. The owners of the Mill and the Estate were keenly interested in botany and collected trees from both North America and the Old World. A group was formed to identify any trees that are either old enough to have been part of the original collection or seedlings of those trees. Yellow tape was placed around 22 trees (listed below) which are numbered and roughly located taking the old driveway up from the parking area.

#	Type of Tree	Description
1.	White Oak	Quercus alba (possibly a Burr Oak, Q. macrocarpa), 52 inches.
2.	Fir	Abies Sp. several trees near the above oak.
3.	Fir	Abies sp. on the right side of the drive.
4.	Black Walnut	Juglans nigra
5.	Tulip Tree	Liriodendron tulipifera, 40 inches.
6.	Sugar Maple	Acer saccharum, 12 feet further to left.
7.	Magnolia acuminata	Likely the largest M. acuminata in the area, probably part of the original estate plantings. Though native to North America, it is not native to this area.
8.	Yellowwood	Cladrastis Kentukea, lean out over drive; The original Yellowwood would have been part of the estate plantings. It is native to North America, but not this area. There are several smaller Yellowwood on the property.
9.	Oak, (Red)	Quercus Sp. 40+ inches. Large incheswidowmaker inches hanging on it.
10.	Scarlet Oak	Quercus coccinea, 48+ inches. Tall straight tree, 80 feet to the first crotch.
11.	White Oak	Quercus alba, 20 inches.
12.	Buckeye	Aesculus glabra, Native to North America, but not this area.
13.	California Incense Cedar	Calocedrus decurrens, 60 inches. Left side of drice towards the Blue Route. Incense Cedars are native to the west coast and are rarely planted here.
14.	False Cypress	Chamaecyparis pisifera 'squarrosa.' In the same group as evergreens. Native to Japan.
15.	Elm	Ulmus sp. Not Asian, possibly American?
16.	Rhododendron	Rhododendron sp. Possibly Asian species or hybrid. Top right side of drive.
17.	Tulip Tree	L. tulipifera, 45+ inches. Over top of drive and 20 feet downhill of chain link fence.
18.	European Linden	Tilla cordata. Native to Europe and western Asia. Right side of millrace path.
19.	Sycamore Leaf Maple	Acer pseudoplantanus. European species, right side of millrace path.
20.	Tulip Tree	L. Tulipifera, 72+ inches.
21.	Cork Tree	Phellodendron amurense, Asian species.
22.	Cucumbertree Magnolia	Eastern United States4-10 inches long
23.	Zelkova	Zelkova serrata. Next to gravel parking area, eastern Asia
24.	American Linden	Eastern North America
25.	White Ash	Eastern and Central North America
26.	Black Oak	Black oak leafs are four to ten inches long, with seven to nine inch lobes.
27.	Sourwood	Southeastern United States