By Mareska Chettiar, Staff Reporter
Say goodbye to the bumpy roads and potholes that rudely interrupt a drive through the historic site: officials are currently renovating Valley Forge Park. The park has been busy with renovations in recent years, including rebuilding the Visitor Center and opening a new museum. Most of the changes are occurring in three phases, focusing on repaving roads for a smoother drive — especially along the parking lot outside the Washington Memorial and along the road across from the Schuylkill River.
“A lot of parks across the country are really excited for (the Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary). So is Pennsylvania, of course, (since it had) such a major role in the revolution. This is also systematic maintenance which the park would do whether there’s an anniversary or not,” said Adam Gresek, the park’s spokesperson.
The renovations aim for a smoother drive following the park’s most popular free audio tour.
Valley Forge is expecting a lot more visitors over the next few years with the eve of the Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary fast approaching in 2026. But, major changes cause slight inconveniences for people who frequently visit the park.
“I’m sure the sounds of construction aren’t the greatest, and having specific paths blocked can be annoying,” said Allie Naiva, freshman and frequenter of the park. “But, the park is massive and you could go an entire day without knowing there were renovations going on.”
The closing of major roads may dictate a slight detour and draw pedestrians’ attention, but the beauty and history of the park remain unaltered and will be easier for visitors to appreciate after the renovations are completed.
“While (repaving) causes a short-term inconvenience, being closed for a couple of weeks gives us years of high-quality roads,” Gresek said. “And it’s always better to have clean, safe roads to drive across.”
Gulph Road, which runs right across the park, is currently under construction. The Pennsylvania State Department expects to continue working on it through the fall. A new café is also opening in the Maurice Stephens house, a traditional 1700s-style house that was abandoned in the mid-1990s. Work is expected to begin this fall and the new café will open in spring.
“We’ve been out of the game for a little while,” Gresek said. “But we’re coming back with as much talent and ability (as) we had before COVID.”
Mareska Chettiar can be reached at [email protected].
