Friends of Ashbridge Park  ~ the Jewel of the Lower Merion Park System

Be a part of our park’s revitalization in 2005 and beyond! As a community, we will have the opportunity to contribute to the planning process by working with the Lower Merion Township Parks and Recreation Department.

Ashbridge Park in Rosemont is 28.81 acres provide areas for walking, sledding, jogging, tennis, and play. The park is bounded by Montgomery Ave. on the West, Airdale Road on the South, and the Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work on the East. 

Ashbridge House was built in 1769 on the northern section by one of Rees Thomas's sons, William, and his grandson, Rees Thomas III.

Peter Pechin purchased this property in 1850. He left a farm to each of his four children, giving the Rosemont property to Rebecca Emily Pechin Ashbridge. Her husband,

Joshua Ashbridge, already owned forty adjoining acres on the south, and the tracts took on the name Ashbridge.

A small section of the Ashbridge land was deeded to the Pennsylvania Railroad for a station with the understanding that it be named Rosemont. Both Montgomery Avenue and Airdale Road were constructed through the property, which had a long straight lane to Roberts Road.

Rebecca and Joshua Ashbridge's three daughters inherited the tract in 1891 and, with foresight, planned wills as early as 1906, when Mary died.With the death of the third sister in 1940 the farm was left to Lower Merion Township to be used for recreation.

Now named Ashbridge Memorial Park in memory of the soldiers of World War I, the "Tribute Walk" was built by the Rosemont-Villanova Civic Association to honor those who fought in World War II. The area of rare specimen trees, some ancient and somecarefully selected by the late Jack Kenealy, tree warden of Lower Merion Township, has been called the "Kenealy Arboretum".

 

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

 ASHBRIDGE HOUSE

LOCATED IN

ASHBRIDGE PARK.

 

 

 

 

Click here to contact Friends of Ashbridge Park (FOAP)