On Saturday, June 1, our county, state, and borough representatives, Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Executive Director Ryan Beltz, –and our special guest of honor, Delaware Tribe of Indians Cultural Education Director Jeremy Johnson—all gathered for the Dedication and Naming Ceremony for Collegeville Borough’s new Welakamike Creekside Park.
The park was created through these partnerships, and built with grants from the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, and $30,000 personally donated by Mark Marino, Owner of the Duck Inn.
Also instrumental in creating the park were The Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative, the Collegeville-Trappe Public Works Department, Ursinus College, the Perkiomen Valley School District, and the Collegeville Fire Company.
In a moving ceremony, Jeremy Johnson discussed the importance to him and The Delaware Tribe of being warmly welcomed back and recognized as the original indigenous inhabitants of Collegeville after 158 years, and of the naming the park “Welakamike,” which in Lenape means “Beautiful Place.” He then invited the dignitaries to help him bless the park with a gift of tobacco leaves.
About 80 Collegeville residents and boaters from the Perkiomen Creek Sojourn were in attendance. Lunch was served afterwards to everyone attending.
You can view photos of the Perkiomen Creek Sojourn and Creekside Park Dedication here: 2024 Perkiomen Creek Sojourn – Google Photos
Although still a work in progress, the park is open. The GPS address is 107 W. First Ave., Collegeville. The park extends along the Perkiomen Creek from Main Street to roughly the end of the Collegeville Shopping Center. It currently contains a parking lot, boat launch, and entrance to a cleared trail along the creek. Picnic tables will be installed later this summer. More information on the Creekside park: https://www.collegeville-pa.gov/creekside-park-update/
