Signs Point to Willow Grove

Where is Willow Grove? 

Strictly from a map standpoint, the community encompasses part of Upper Moreland, Abington and Upper Dublin townships, as well as a portion of Huntingdon Valley. 

“There’s just a broad umbrella on the map that people think of as Willow Grove,” Karen Houck, Upper Moreland Revitalization Task Force chairwoman said.

With any luck, the township, with the addition of wayfinding signage, can have all signs pointing downtown.

The revitalization task force, as well consultant Cloud Gehshan Associates, earlier this year put together a plan for what signs could look like and the best places to install them. The work was funded through a $40,000 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission grant.

“It’s basically to try to create a sense of place with Willow Grove,” Houck said. “All roads lead to the downtown area … If we can direct people there, if we can energize some activity down there that’s part of the process.”

The group identified five “gateway” locations–including Moreland and York roads, York and Easton roads, York Road and Sunset Lane and Easton and Wyandotte roads–as key places to install signs directing motorists to Upper Moreland’s downtown shopping center.

Dubbed “down the Grove,” Houck said the area where Davisville, York and Easton converge is the key area and “helping people realize that it’s there” is the intent.

At least for this year, installation of new signs is not likely. Upper Moreland Township Manager David Dodies said money for the new red and tan signs, as presented in a report, could be in next year’s budget. 

When funding becomes available, Houck said the township will be ahead of the game.

“This was actually a study to determine if and when we could do signage what would we do,” she said.