Little Tinicum Island, Phase 2
Valley Forge State Forest

The cool, partly sunny morning of Saturday, October 18th, 2003, turned into a spectacular, sunny day. A slight breeze and low 60-degree weather were the perfect combination to encourage the hard-working volunteers to remain until the designated stretch of beach and island were clean.

Little Tinicum Island, located offshore from the town of Essington in the Delaware River, Delaware County, is just south of the Philadelphia Airport. Tires, glass and plastic items, and household trash are just some of the debris illegally discarded or dumped into the Delaware River that washes up onto the island.

Two tons of trash were bagged and, along with approximately 260 tires and 6.12 tons of scrap metal, loaded onto the boats, transported to the docks, carried up the ramps and loaded into the rolloffs. Over 40 volunteers worked from 8:00 am to mid-afternoon to finish the job. Lunch, provided by Serratore's Restaurant, was enjoyed sitting in the sun on the island's sandy beach.

PA CleanWays, Inc. and Valley Forge State Forest organized the cleanup. The West End Boat Club donated their facilities and docks, Delaware Bay & River Cooperative donated two boats and operators, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary donated an emergency response boat, and Tinicum Township donated an emergency response vehicle. Waste Management of Delaware-South donated trash disposal and provided hauling.

Valley Forge State Forest Cleanup Team Delaware Bay and River Cooperative PA CleanWays, Inc. Serratore's Restaurant Tinicum Township U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Valley Forge State Forest Employees Waste Management of Delaware-South West End Boat Club

DCNR encourages residents of Delaware County with disposal and recycling questions to contact their Recycling Coordinator at 610-892-9716.

Valley Forge State Forest is comprised of 912 acres, spread out over six separate tracts located in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The forest is home to four unusual natural areas that are open to the public. These areas include Goat Hill Serpentine Barrens, which protects a nationally rare ecosystem of pitch pine and hardy plants that can endure metal-laden soil formed from the underlying serpentinite rock, and Little Tinicum Island, a forested tidal flat in the Delaware River, accessible only by boat. Also, included are the David R. Johnson Natural Area and the Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area.

Learn about other illegal dump sites in state forests and parks.

This page last updated November 21, 2003.

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