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We are thrilled to announce that Warrington Township received the prestigious 2025 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the transformative ecological uplift initiative at Lion’s Pride Park—a collaborative restoration effort for which Princeton Hydro served as the design, regulatory, and construction administration lead.
Each year, the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) under the leadership of Governor Josh Shapiro, recognize innovative projects that demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental protection, climate resilience, community engagement, and sustainability. Winning projects are selected for their measurable environmental outcomes, creative approaches to conservation, and the strength of their partnerships. For 2025, only 19 projects across the entire Commonwealth were selected for this honor, highlighting the exceptional impact and innovation of each initiative.
In a press release, PADEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley said, “The Environmental Excellence honorees embody the innovative thinking needed to protect our environment and shape a more sustainable future here in Pennsylvania. Together, we will spur the next generation of environmental stewards. These projects showcase our ability to work collaboratively to preserve and protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources.”
The Lion’s Pride Park Ecological Restoration Project stood out as a model of creative collaboration, forward-thinking design, and community engagement. This ambitious effort transformed an overgrown, flood-prone pond into a thriving, accessible wetland mosaic that now supports native biodiversity, mitigates stormwater impacts, and provides a wide range of environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Spanning 47 acres, Lion’s Pride Park serves as a vital green space for the Warrington Township community. However, the pond at the center of the park was affected by invasive species overgrowth, chronic flooding, and declining water quality.
To address these issues, Warrington Township and Warrington Environmental Advisory Council partnered with Princeton Hydro to develop and implement a comprehensive restoration strategy. Beginning in 2020, the team conducted detailed site investigations, including bathymetric surveys, sediment analysis, and wetland delineations to understand the site’s specific challenges and ecological potential.
The photos above were taken in the fall of 2023.
The work culminated in the design and regulatory coordination of a restoration plan focused on converting the pond area into a biodiverse emergent wetland system. Some of the key project elements include:
Throughout the process, Princeton Hydro led the permitting and compliance efforts, securing approvals from PADEP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and Bucks County Conservation District to ensure that the project met both ecological and regulatory standards.
Now, the revitalized wetland serves as a habitat haven for birds, pollinators, and native plant species; reduces nonpoint source pollutants discharged to downstream waters; and provides accessible pathways and observation platforms so all community members may learn from and enjoy this restored landscape. Click here to learn more about the Lion’s Pride Park restoration effort.
The two photos above were taken in early June 2025.
On Tuesday, June 10, the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence was formally presented at a ceremony hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Attending on behalf of the project were Ivy Ross, member of the Warrington Township Environmental Advisory Council; Andy Oles, Parks and Recreation Director for Warrington Township; and Amy McNamara, EIT, CPESC, Water Resources Engineer and Engineering Services Technical Project Manager at Princeton Hydro. Their presence at the ceremony reflected the strong inter-agency collaboration and shared commitment that made this award-winning project possible.
“This project exemplifies how ecological restoration can do so much more than improve habitat—it can strengthen community resilience, foster environmental stewardship, and create lasting educational opportunities,” said McNamara. “We’re incredibly proud to have partnered with Warrington Township, the Advisory Council, and others to bring this vision to life, and are honored to see that work recognized at the state level.”
Pictured below from left to right: Ivy Ross Warrington Township Environmental Advisory Council; Andy Oles Warrington Township Parks and Recreation Director; Amy McNamara EIT, CPESC, Princeton Hydro Water Resource Engineer and Engineering Services Technical Project Manager.
Congratulations to Warrington Township and everyone who made the Lion’s Pride Park Ecological Restoration Project a success! And, thanks to Ivy Ross for providing great photos from the awards event.
Click here for more information and to read about all the award-winning projects selected for 2025. We invite you to explore the links below to learn more about the organizations that contributed to this effort:
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