Clockwise from above: Sycamore Mills Dam, ruins within the park, the trail along Ridley Creek and the
Sycamore Mills historic building 
Wikimedia In Praise (and Repair) of
Ridley Creek State Park
JOSHUA NEEDELMAN | JE STAFF
T HUMBING THROUGH A local newspaper more than
20 years ago, Jack Miller stumbled across a small adver-
tisement that caught his eye: The administration of Ridley
Creek State Park, the 2,606-acre park in Delaware County, was
looking for volunteers. Friends, more specifically.

The Friends of Ridley Creek State Park is a group comprised
of volunteers dedicated to smoothing out the park’s rough edges.

State employees take care of things like building maintenance
and plumbing. The Friends, though, focus on maintaining the
paths. Clearing fallen trees. Removing invasive species. Even
building bridges.

Miller, who has served as the group’s president for about 10
years, is grateful he followed up on the newspaper ad and attend-
ed that first meeting. The Friends have provided him, and many
others, a sense of purpose rooted in a love for nature.

“It’s like taking care of your own house or your own apart-
6 JUNE 7, 2018
ment. You just want to make it nicer,” Miller said. “We go out in
nature and make it nicer.”
The Friends meet on the first Saturday of every month — rain,
shine, sleet or snow. They venture into the wilderness, armed
with hand saws, shovels and pickaxes — whatever is needed
for the task at hand. They also raise funds for the park, holding
fundraising events and an annual photo competition.

Their methods have gotten more sophisticated over time.

At first, they scattered about the park with little direction, not
knowing what needed to be fixed and which tools were necessary.

Now, Miller and other members scout out the park a few days in
advance and note the various problems. Also, park goers record
things that need fixing in a notebook in the park office.

Then, on the first Saturday of the month, the Friends divide
into two groups and conquer, maps in hand and itinerary
planned. “It’s nice to know what the problem is before you go out,”
Miller said.

THIS SUMMER
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