Rotary Club of Jenkintown

Dedicated to "Service Above Self" since 1924                                          "They Profit Most Who Serve Best"

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Rotary Centennial Community Service Project:
Jenkintown Town Square  Beautification and Periodic Maintenance

History of the Jenkintown Town Square: a project on hold in 2005, before Rotarians were involved.

The Jenkintown Town Square renovations were partially completed in 2003.  However, due to cost over-runs, and a poor relationship with the contractor on the project, the landscaping expenditures were severely reduced.  Budget cuts precluded following the original landscape architect's plan for selection and placement of plantings.  The plantings used were inappropriate to the site, and poorly suited to an urban environment.  Landscaping maintenance was also neglected.  The result was scrubby, dead, or dying plantings in a site detracting from Jenkintown's charm instead of augmenting it.

Photographs of the Jenkintown Town Square before the renovation (April 2005)

This is a highly visible and much used asset in our community that needed help!  The Borough of Jenkintown needed to complete and maintain this valuable real estate for public enjoyment, local beautification to enhance the business environment, and as an attractive location for community events.

Professionally Planned and Supervised Renovation

At the request of the Rotary Club of Jenkintown, Ed Landau  (a local Jenkintown Landscape Architect) donated his time and expertise to thoroughly evaluate the square.  He made specific recommendations for completion of the original design for the Town Square.  The Rotary Club of Jenkintown then brought his recommendations to the professional landscaping firm of Garrett Churchill for help with design execution.  (Garrett Churchill is a highly regarded firm known, among other things, for landscaping improvement of Glenside’s Keswick Circle.)  Proper renovations were projected to cost $20,000 - provided volunteer labor could be used to augment work by professional landscapers.

Initial renovations included installation of a state of the art underground drip irrigation system, new plantings (trees, shrubs, and flowering plants), and new plant- protecting mulches.

A Community Service by the Rotary Club of Jenkintown

In honor of Rotary International's 100 years of service to humanity, the Rotary Club of Jenkintown marshaled the talents and energy of it's membership to complete beautification of the Jenkintown Town Square as a community service project.  The Rotary Club of Jenkintown organized and ran a very successful pancake breakfast to raise funds for the renovation.  Our fundraising generated $5,000 for the project, making it eligible for another $5,000 in matching funds from the Rotary International Foundation.  The resulting $10,000 donation from the local and international Rotary organizations was then matched by the Borough of Jenkintown from funds previously allocated to the Jenkintown Town Square.  Fresh Fields Whole Foods Market in Jenkintown has graciously donated annual flowering plants to the project.

The Jenkintown Borough Council approved our plans for the renovation.  This community service project of the Rotary Club of Jenkintown relied on a combination of labor by Garrett Churchill's employees, volunteer service by our club membership and local residents all working together under the guidance of the professionals.

The Rotary Club of Jenkintown has continued periodic work to maintain the gardens of the Jenkintown Town Square, using volunteer services and labor of our members, and by continuing financial support though charitable giving by the club.

Special Notice from Former President Richard Schaphorst about the Rotary Centennial Project

Pictures from the First Community Clean-up & Planting Day in the Jenkintown Town Square

Rotary Club of Jenkintown members enjoyed digging and planting on May 21, 2005.  The Town Square now compliments Jenkintown, a beautiful place to live, work and play blessed with active, involved civic organizations and citizens willing to roll up their sleeves to keep our community vibrant.  

Pictures from the Second Community Clean-up & Planting Day in the Jenkintown Town Square

Rotary Club of Jenkintown member held the second community planting and Spring clean-up on May 7, 2006.  The Town Square's gardens were supplemented with more flowering plants, weeds were removed, and new mulch was applied.  Jenkintown is a more beautiful place to live, work and play as a result of the efforts of our volunteers.  

	Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Jenkintown have been regularly pulling weeds, and grooming the Jenkintown Town Square plantings.  A second  community clean-up and Spring Planting Day was enjoyed on May 7, 2006.  Representative photos of the event show Rotarians working to improve our local community. We were particularly proud to have team of Jenkintown High School students join us both in our work that beautiful day; and in appreciating community service as a life-enriching experience.  Thank you for serving with us!

Text & Photos by Judy Hendrixson