We have ideas that originated from our own thoughts and from conversations we have had over the past year. Some will seem sensible enough; pretty sure one will be hated.

Please note, we didn’t get into the weeds with any of these. They are a starting point for a conversation.

A Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Rowing Team

Let’s start with a sensible one. When the Borough of Conshohocken made a deal with two private Main Line high schools to build a rowing center, part of what was promised was a rowing program for the community. That really hasn’t happened, and we aren’t sure if that is due to a lack of interest or failed implementation.

Either way, Plymouth Whitemarsh doesn’t have a rowing program or team. Yes, that can be an expensive endeavor. But, the borough should offer its portion of the rowing center as a home for a future program.

If it has been or will be offered, we will be happy to help promote any effort to get a program started.

Combine the Conshohocken Soap Box Derby with The Car/Art Show or FunFest

Continuing to have the Conshohocken Soap Box Derby on July 4th doesn’t make a lot of sense beyond tradition. The first race was held in 1951.

July is hot. Many kids are down the shore, and frankly, our experience is that it is a quality, well-run event that deserves more participation and attention than it currently receives. This isn’t a criticism of anyone. It just is what it is due to the date and the town changing over five decades.

We are also sure that the international organization that sanctions the race has stipulations on when the race needs to be held (so that needs to be considered).

Conshohocken has two events that the soap box derby could be paired with: the car/art show in June or FunFest in September. Fayette Street is already closed, and neither really can fill all of it between Elm and 9th.

Combining the race with one of the two other events will mean more people cheering the racers, and likely more racers.

Back to the River. Kayaks and Canoes

Conshohocken, West Conshohocken, Plymouth Township, and Whitemarsh Township are communities along the Schuylkill River without real public access to the river. While there is a plan for some sort of public access in Whitemarsh, more can be done there and elsewhere.

Tree and Menorah Lighting in Conshohocken

With the creation of a new pocket park at West 2nd Avenue that will incorporate the existing memorial to veterans and the statue named “The Family,” there should be a plan to incorporate a Christmas tree for the annual tree lighting ceremony and the lighting of the Menorah. Both of these currently happen off the beaten path at Mary Wood Park; however, they were once held at Leeland Mansion prior to its sale.

Road Diet and Bike Lanes

If the borough council decides to move forward with a road diet along a significant portion of Fayette Street, it should drop any planned bike lanes. No one should be riding a bike on Fayette Street.

Use any planned space that would be allocated for bike lanes to expand sidewalks.

Dog Park

The Borough of Conshohocken has too many parks and publicly owned properties for one square mile. They acquired two more in 2024. The area around The Outbound Station for another park and the former dealership (along the 1100 block of Fayette Street) for a new public safety building.

There is no political will to put a dog park in Sutcliffe Park or any other existing park or back at the riverfront (the previous dog park got destroyed in a flood).

The public works shed along East Elm Street (next to the community garden) or the other public works facility at the bottom of West 7th Avenue (overlooking Sutcliffe Park) should become a dog park. Whatever operations currently happen at either of these locations should be moved to the former dealership along the 1100 block of Fayette Street that the borough purchased in 2024 to construct a new public safety building.