FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE

ONGOING SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AT RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA WHICH ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE FUNDS THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT RADNOR LAKE WHICH ENGAGED OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR. VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND SCHOOL, CHURCH AND CIVIC GROUPS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE IN TRAIL MAINTENANCE, RECOVERY FROM STORM DAMAGE, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AND WETLANDS CLEAN-UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE IN NOTABLE VOLUNTEER EVENTS INCLUDING WORLD WETLANDS DAY, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WEEK, WEED WRANGLE, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY. PARK STAFF MANAGE ALL VOLUNTEERS ON PARK PROPERTY AND PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT THE NATURAL AREA AND HOW TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.JUNIOR RANGERS INTERN PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN HOSTED EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS, ENGAGING TEENAGERS IN A SIX-DAY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH INTRODUCES THEM TO CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. DAILY WORK INCLUDES TRAIL MULCHING, MAINTENANCE PROJECTS WITHIN THE PARK AND AT THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. AGAIN THIS YEAR, INTERNS ENJOYED A DAY OF BIRD WATCHING/IDENTIFICATION EDUCATION. RIVER CLEAN-UP ON THE DUCK RIVER WAS INCLUDED IN THE CURRICULUM WHEN WEATHER PERMITTED, PROVIDING EDUCATION ON INDIVIDUALS' IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTION OF AQUATIC SPECIES.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE HELPS FUND THE NATIVE GRASSLANDS INITIATIVE, A LONG-TERM NATURAL AREAS PLAN TO REMOVE INVASIVE-EXOTIC PLANTS IN TARGET AREAS AND PLANT A CUSTOM SEED MIX TO RESTORE THE NATIVE GRASSES THAT EXISTED AT RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA 50 YEARS AGO. THESE NATIVE GRASSES ATTRACT AND SUSTAIN POLLINATORS AND BUTTERFLIES, AND WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE POLLINATOR POPULATION IN THESE REPLANTED AREAS IN RECENT YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY INTERESTED AND SUCCESSFUL IN REPLANTING AND ATTRACTING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED A VULNERABLE SPECIES. THE ORIGINAL GOAL IN RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK'S STRATEGIC LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS TO CONVERT AT LEAST 40 ACRES OF THE PARK TO NATIVE GRASSLANDS. DUE TO THE ECOLOGICAL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE SUPPORTED EXPANDED WORK IN THIS AREA, RESULTING IN THE PARK CONVERTING JUST OVER 150 ACRES.THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER (BJMAEC) OPENED AT RADNOR IN 2015. FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE RAISED THE FUNDS TO BUILD THIS FACILITY AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAIN THE EAGLE PROGRAM. AT THE BJMAEC, PARK STAFF CARE FOR SEVEN NON-RELEASEABLE BIRDS OF PREY THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS EDUCATION ANIMALS DUE TO PERMANENT INJURIES. THESE RAPTORS, WHICH COULD NOT SURVIVE IN THE WILD, ARE USED FOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE THE TWO DAYS A WEEK WHEN THE AREA IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ARE NOW INCLUDED IN OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM.THIS YEAR, WE CELEBRATED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK LEADERSHIP, WE OUTLINED A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT PLAN, AND INITIATED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THESE GOALS. WE RAISED FUNDING TO DEMOLISH AN UNINHABITABLE RESIDENCE ON PARK PROPERTY IN PREPARATION FOR A MORE ACCESSIBLE DRIVEWAY APPROACH TO THE AVIARY, AND HAVE PERFORMED MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO THE BOARDWALK AND RAPTOR ENCLOSURES. ADDITIONAL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO BE COMPLETED AS FUNDING IS SECURED.

SUPPORT THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL AREA IN AND SURROUNDING RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET OUR CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDES VIEWSHED, WATERSHED, WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE PROTECTION, PARK SECURITY AND HIKING EXPERIENCE. IN FY 2025, FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE PURCHASED ONE ACRE OF VIEWSHED-WATERSHED PROPERTY AND TRANSITIONED THIS PARCEL FROM RESIDENTIAL TO NATIVE GRASSLANDS. FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE ALSO COMPLETED 9-ACRE LAND ACQUISITION WHICH REMAINS IN OUR POSSESSION.