About
The Township of Lower Merion purchased a one-acre parking lot in Ardmore and commissioned SALT to design a new community park. Through a participatory process, involving hands-on charrettes with adults and children, SALT’s team developed a design rooted in the native hydrology, topography, and riparian habitats of Cobbs Creek and Indian Creek watersheds.
Project Details
Description
The park design reimagines the historic ridgeline between the two watersheds as a bold, playful landform that shapes the site’s identity. Along the edge of the landform, a colorful, low curving wall weaves through the space, serving as seating, a stage, or a walkway. This dynamic feature not only guides stormwater but also creates flexible, unprogrammed areas for recreation and relaxation while transforming the visual experience of the park. A rich planting palette—including an abundance of new canopy and understory trees, shrubs, and perennials—forms a multi-layered native woodland. The vibrant ground layer enlivens the lowland habitat and supports existing mature red oaks. Together, the landforms and diverse plant communities enhance native wildlife, positioning the park as a vital link within the regional green space network.
Today, Linwood Park serves as a model of community stewardship, with the Friends of Linwood Park earning recognition from Lower Merion Township and Montgomery County for their dedication to stewardship of the Park. Throughout the year, the Friends group hosts numerous community events and programs in the Park, which have made it a beloved gathering space for neighbors and visitors alike.
SALT was hired by the community to develop a park master plan (completed in 2009) and then hired by the Township to prepare design-construction documents and conduct Construction Administration. The project has received several prestigious honors, including a Merit Award for Planning from PA-DE ASLA in 2009 (for the Master Plan for Linwood Park), the Public Spaces Garden Blue Ribbon Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 2014, and the Excellence in Green Stormwater Infrastructure Award from the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia in 2018.
Contact SALT Design Studio info@saltdesigns.com SALT Design Studio Linwood Park Project
Construction Details
Design Firm
SALT Design Studio
General Contractor
Puhl’s Landscaping
Sub-contractors
Yerkes Associates, Studio Gaea
