“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

When New Garden Township purchased the Saint Anthony’s property in 2018 for the sum of $1.5 million, it was a solid achievement, a sound investment and one that assured that the township was committed to open space and fully in control of the levers that would follow its comprehensive plan that called for creating a strong relationship between progress and conservation.

In the months that followed the purchase, the township engaged its residents by giving each of them a magic marker to write down their wish list for the 137-acre property, and the residents responded in full with concepts and ideas that would redefine the park as New Garden’s playground, with all of the bells and whistles that are attributed to families and community building.  Their priorities included in the 2021 Saint Anthony’s in the Hills Park Master Plan that called for the creation of trails, to be able to enjoy the preservation and enhancement of natural areas like stream corridors and wildlife habitat, and to honor the work of Father Roberto’s legacy.

Unfortunately, the final price tag proved to be just over $32 million, which may have put a halt to the original plans, but still, the township – headed by Township Manager Christopher Himes, Parks Superintendent Mike Buck, its Board of Supervisors and a dedicated team of volunteers – persisted quietly and slowly to whittle away at the dream. 

It was renamed New Garden Hills, followed by branding and entrance signage and new street names. Demolition saw the removal of 18 dilapidated structures. Riparian buffers were maintained, and tree plantings began to sprout up. Clean-up was seen everywhere and in November of 2023, the ribbons were cut on a Nature Trail.

On September 15, Buck introduced what the township and its residents have long been waiting for – a revised plan for New Garden Hills that not only comes in $27 million less but fully embraces the township’s commitment to passive recreation spaces. It’s a nine-zone, phased in concept that will, over the course of the next seven years embellish the beauty that is already there, in a way that honors nature, history, community and family. 

We heartily applaud New Garden Township for its persistence and determination to see their vision of New Garden Hills through. In the end, when the last tree is planted, it will be a magical addition to a municipality as it heads toward its future.