Conshy Celebrates Aubrey Collins Jr. Park Rededication

Members of the Conshohocken community celebrated the rededication of Aubrey Collins, Jr. Memorial Park on Saturday — complete with a new sign, benches, and trees.

Conshohocken Mayor Bob Frost, Council President Paul McConnell, local council representative Ike Griffin and Councilman Bob Stokley were on hand for the celebration, which included a DJ, food and lots of balloons.

The park, named after the 14-year-old Conshohocken boy who was hit by a tractor-trailer while riding his bike on Elm Street in 1989, has only been known by a small cement marker, which has been upgraded to a large blue sign.

"I'm very happy and excited about this," said Melinda Collins, Aubrey's mother, who still lives in Conshohocken.

Aubrey was well known in the community at the time of his death, according to his brother, Bryan Collins.  He was a paperboy, involved in community baseball and football.

Bryan Collins, who still lives in the borough, said he was angry after Aubrey's death; angry that a tractor-trailer could come through the area at high speeds with no stop signs.

He now has great appreciation for Frost, Griffin, and the other elected officials, "not as titles or anything, as men," for putting in extra safety measures in the borough to protect children.

"Because of these men and the decisions they made," Bryan Collins said. "I look at these kids, and they can live because [Aubrey] died."

In addition to the added safety, Aubrey's memory will live on with a large blue sign, in an improved park that will soon be upgraded further when a pavilion is added to a seating area, according to Griffin.