The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership is proud to announce the completion of the Shoemaker Run restoration project at the Abington Club. While the construction phase is complete, TTF’s work on-site continues: additional tree and shrub plantings are being added, just as we do at other restoration projects across the watershed. These ongoing efforts strengthen stormwater management, reduce flooding and pollution, improve ecological health, and restore native habitats that will benefit both wildlife and the surrounding community for years to come.
“The Abington Club is a vital hub for networking, youth education, and outdoor access in Montgomery County,” said Justin DiBerardinis, Executive Director of TTF. “The restoration of Shoemaker Run shows what is possible when local partners come together to protect clean water and strengthen community spaces.”
Before Restoration: A Creek Under Pressure
Shoemaker Run enters the Abington Club after draining approximately 78 acres of land, much of it highly developed. About 37 percent of this area is covered by impervious surfaces, which send stormwater rushing into the creek during heavy rains. With less than one percent of the drainage area forested, the stream lacked mature vegetation to stabilize the banks, slow runoff, and provide shade or habitat. and the corridor had almost zero percent canopy cover. The result was fast-moving water, vulnerable streambanks, and limited wildlife habitat.
Tributary Segment 1, approximately 250 feet long, showed significant degradation. Exposed soil lined the banks, and concrete structures in the channel obstructed flow and accelerated erosion.
Tributary Segment 2, about 480 feet long, was slightly more stable but constrained by a narrow buffer between the creek and the golf course. Although the existing buffer ranged from 15 to 40 feet wide, it was crowded with invasive species and lacked diversity.
What We Built
To address flooding, erosion, and habitat loss, TTF completed extensive restoration across two stream segments. At the stormwater outfall located just upstream of the Abington Club property, crews repaired failing concrete walls and installed large riprap stones—some as large as 24 to 42 inches in diameter—to slow fast-moving stormwater and reduce scour.
In Tributary Segment 1, the team removed old concrete structures embedded in the creek bed, reshaped the streambanks to better handle high flows, and planted a new 35-foot-wide riparian buffer on both sides of the channel. This buffer stabilizes soil, shades the creek, and provides food and shelter for wildlife.
In Tributary Segment 2, no major grading was necessary. Instead, TTF focused on removing invasive species and expanding the existing riparian buffer by 35 feet in each direction. This expansion introduced diverse native species, deepened habitat quality, and improved long-term resilience. With support from WildLawn of Bucks County, a native meadow was also established to create pollinator habitat and reduce mowing needs.
A Hands-On Restoration for Students, Volunteers, and Partners
This project reflects strong partnerships with local organizations and educational institutions. The Abington Club remained deeply engaged throughout planning and construction. Volunteers from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Philadelphia Young Member Forum helped plant approximately 90 native trees during a volunteer event. Students from Abington Friends School joined TTF staff for two hands-on planting days, installing more than 200 native shrubs while learning how vegetation improves water quality and habitat.
In total, more than 40 volunteers supported the restoration, contributing to the planting of 363 native trees and shrubs across the project site.
According to Upstream Conservation Leader Ryan Neuman, these plantings will provide long-term benefits. He noted that the newly planted native species stabilize the streambank, cool stream temperatures, add seasonal color, and replace areas once overrun by invasive plants with trees like sweetbay magnolia, flowering dogwood, and eastern redbud.
After Restoration: A Healthier Shoemaker Run
The restored stream corridor now includes a wider, healthier riparian buffer, stabilized banks, improved stream capacity, and a thriving mix of native plant life. Meadow areas offer seasonal pollinator habitat, while new trees and shrubs help slow runoff, filter pollutants, and support wildlife.
Shoemaker Run has long been central to the character of the Abington Club. As Ryan Neuman explained, when the club and golf course opened in 1910, the stream’s presence was a defining feature of the landscape. With this restoration complete, the creek’s historic significance is honored, and its ecological future is strengthened.
“We are so grateful for the hard work and dedication of the TTF Watershed Partnership in helping us restore Shoemaker Run. Protecting clean water has been a long-fought battle for The Abington Club. Now, with this joint venture project complete and the help of our superintendent Sumner Cross and his crew moving forward, we will continue to keep Shoemaker Run strong, clean, and healthy for the surrounding communities.” – Mark Cole, Abington Club’s president
Thank You to Our Partners
This restoration was made possible with support from:
- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- The Abington Club
- WildLawn of Bucks County
- Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- American Society of Civil Engineers – Philadelphia YMF
- Abington Friends School
- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Healing the Planet Grant Program with support from The GIANT Company
- The more than 40 volunteers who planted, learned, and worked alongside TTF
Get Involved
Shoemaker Run’s restoration is part of TTF’s ongoing work to protect and restore headwater streams throughout the watershed. To learn more about upcoming plantings, cleanups, and community science projects, visit the TTF Events page. You can also support our work by making a donation or joining the TTF Partner Alliance.
Together, we are building a healthier, more resilient watershed—one creek at a time.
