For the past several years, Mike Buck, the director of Parks & Open Space for New Garden Township, has been partnering with township staff, its Board of Directors, volunteers and several agencies to bring forth a sustainable – and green – future for the township. That vision is already underway, with long-term ideas planned for New Garden Hills and the Smedley Preserve, among other projects. Mike recently met with Landenberg Life to discuss the progress that is being made and what’s happening at New Garden Park this spring and summer. 

Landenberg Life: Let’s begin with the fact that in terms of land preservation and development, the last few years have been busy for you and New Garden Township. Let’s first talk about New Garden Hills, the former site of Saint Anthony’s in the Hills. The township opened the Kaolin Trail there last year, as part of Phase I of New Garden Hill’s long-term vision. Talk about what first-timers to the grail can expect to enjoy there.

Mike Buck: Kaolin Trail highlights the natural elements of New Garden Hills. As you traverse the trail, you’ll find yourself surrounded by mature woodlands, where Tulip Popular, Beech and Maple trees create a serene canopy overhead. As you progress along the 1.5-mile trail, you’ll find gentle slopes that lead hikers through both an upper terrestrial meadow and lower palustrine shrubland both connected by a large meadow containing a newly installed riparian buffer.  Along the way, Hikers can catch a glimpse of the Broad Run stream as it flows near the trail and then appreciate all these experiences again as they loop back to the trailhead. 

As the design of the Kaolin Trail began to take shape, what natural elements did the planning want to incorporate into the trail?

New Garden Hills is full of nature, and we wanted to incorporate the mature woodlands, meadows and portions of the broad run into the user’s experience. In partnership with Natural Lands Trust, we blazed a path that would connect users with these elements while minimizing disruption to existing plants and wildlife.

With streams being a significant natural resource at New Garden Hills, we also decided it was important to feature the riparian buffer and live stake nurseries. The buffer and nurseries, installed by the Penn State Watershed Stewards program, benefits the stream and also provides a public education opportunity with interpretive signage that highlights both the buffer and the nurseries along the trail. 

New Garden Township will again be hosting several events for the whole family this spring and summer. Can you provide a sneak preview of what Landenberg residents can expect to see there, beginning in April?

I’m very excited about our 2025 event season!  New Garden Park will host a variety of events for the whole family.  For this spring/summer, residents and neighbors can look forward to a Health & Wellness Hike, Easter Egg Hunt, Family Fun Nights and our Rhythm and Brews Summer concert series. This fall/winter we’ll have our Smedley Preserve Hike, Halloween Movie Night, Second Annual New Garden Gobbler 5K, Community Day, and Cookies with Santa events.

I always direct those who are interested in being a part of these events to our Township Facebook page for updates throughout the year.

Your department has developed partnerships with several groups and organizations, including Friends of New Garden Trails, the township’s Open Space Review Board (OSRB) and Parks and Recreation Board, and several local and regional environmental associations. Collectively, your collaborations are far more than merely building trails and preserving property. Talk about the impact of what you all do on the overall fabric of the township.

The resulting efforts of these partnerships (with public input and approval from the Board of Supervisors) support our mission to provide New Garden residents and visitors with recreational opportunities that advance health and wellness while growing community connections to township parks, trails and open spaces. 

To briefly scribe how each group works in partnership, the OSRB, Natural Lands Trust identify and preserve open space; the Parks & Recreation Board provides potential open space uses and programming that connects the community to our parks and open spaces; and Friends of New Garden Trails and park staff maintain the trails, parks and open spaces.

The township also enjoys partnerships with Mighty Writers, Kennett Area Community Service, the Maternal and Child Health Consortium and the Kennett Library help ensure that programing is equitable and accessible to all residents. I believe that our parks and open spaces are a tangible reflection of the quality of life in New Garden Township, these partnerships enrich that quality of life, and I’m honored to have a guiding hand in the process.

The Smedley Preserve, formerly the Loch Nairn Golf Club, was purchased by the township in January 2023 for use as a 105-acre passive-recreation preserve. In collaborations with environmental groups, the township has developed a master plan for the Preserve. Give the readers of Landenberg Life a brief update on what projects are currently happening over there.

In the summer of 2024, park staff added parking signage and a split rail fence gateway to the temporary parking area off of McCue Road. This past February, park staff either replaced or completely rebuilt all the actively used foot bridges within the preserve, improving safety and accessibility. 

On track for this summer, the sediment reduction/stream restoration project could begin as early as May. Through a collaborative effort between New Garden Township, PennDOT and RES - the Smedley Preserve Sediment Reduction MS4 project - aims to reduce sediment pollution within the White Clay watershed, improving water quality and meeting regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to sediment removal and stream restoration, the project will also remove most of the manmade ponds, helping to restore natural habitats for local wildlife, promote biodiversity and support native species.

Tentatively planned for the spring and summer of 2026, pedestrian crossing improvements will be made near the intersection of McCue and Church roads. The project will be funded by a recently awarded $300,000 in Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation grant and matching Open Space funds. Final engineering designs are in progress and will include sightline improvements, road markings, signage, road widening and traffic calming medians. 

Volunteering for your department guarantees fresh air, exercise and the camaraderie of like-minded people who enjoy the outdoors. Describe some of the tasks of a volunteer for Parks & Open Space. How do you put them to work?

Volunteers for the Parks & Open Space engage in various tasks, including clearing paths, repairing erosion, managing invasive plant species, maintaining trail signage and assisting with parks and recreation event support. Event support could involve setting up the event, welcoming guests, directing patrons to various activities, working a water station, monitoring a gaming area, etc. In addition to the fresh air, exercise and camaraderie, I also make sure volunteers are properly fed and hydrated. 

What is your favorite spot in New Garden Township?

My favorite spot in New Garden Township is probably my home.  The combination of a having a five-minute walk to the nearest park and the presence of family makes my home my most cherished place in the Township. 

You host a dinner party and can invite anyone – living or not, famous or not. Who do you want to see around that table?

My parents and my father-in-law.  Both of my parents passed away shortly after I met my wife and before my daughter was born.  I never had a chance to meet my wife’s father. I would love for everyone to catch up and get to know each other, talk about past memories and make some new ones. 

What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator?

The essentials. Pizza and Dogfish Head beer.

To learn more about parks and open space in New Garden Township, visit www.newgarden.org. To become a volunteer for the township’s Parks & Open Space department, email Mike Buck at [email protected]. 

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].