View as a webpage  /  Share

July 2025 LMT E-Newsletter

Ardmore Avenue Community Center and

Positive Aging in Lower Merion

(PALM) Senior Center

The Ardmore Avenue Community Center project is a major $20 million effort aimed at replacing the aging 1978-era facility—affectionately known as the “Soul Shack”—with a modern, recreational hub for the Lower Merion community. Funded in part by over $12 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and an additional $3 million in state grant funding, the project includes a complete rebuild of the community center, construction of a new bathhouse for the adjacent pool area, and major renovations to the Positive Aging in Lower Merion (PALM) senior center. The new community center will feature an updated gymnasium, multiple specialized activity rooms such as a computer lab, a dance studio, and a teen area. The building itself will be fully accessible and embody the Township’s commitment to sustainable practices, incorporating geothermal systems and solar panels to offset the new facility’s energy demand.

Demolition began in spring 2025, with construction on the new community center continuing into late 2026. The PALM renovation is anticipated to be complete by late 2025 with the Ardmore Avenue Pool expected to reopen by summer 2026. Though the process brings temporary disruption, the long-term result will be a state-of-the-art community anchor supporting recreation and wellness across generations.

Construction at the Ardmore Avenue Community Center

Construction at Positive Aging in Lower Merion (PALM)

Refuse and Recycling Collection

for the Week of June 30th

A refuse and recycling holiday collection

schedule will be in effect for June 30th - July 4th.

All Township Offices, Libraries and Facilities

will be closed on Friday, July 4.

To find your holiday collection schedule, visit the address lookup section on the main page of www.lowermerion.org 

The Color Our World Summer Reading program at Lower Merion libraries runs from June 23 through August 16, 2025.

There are programs for every age, from preschool through adults. ⁠

Fireworks Tips for Pet Owners

Whether for the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, or another celebration, many dog owners deal with howling, barking, and generally anxious dogs during fireworks. It’s even largely believed that Independence Day is the day when the highest number of dogs run away. 

Click on the blue button below for some tips from the American Kennel Club on how to keep your dog calm this Independence Day.

Going Away on Vacation this Summer?

Check out the Lower Merion Police Department's Vacant House Check Program!

Going on vacation or otherwise going to be away for your home for an extended period of time.  Sign up for the LMPD Vacant House Check Program!

This free service allows residents to notify the Police Department that their home will be unoccupied for an excess of 24 hours. 

Based on the information you provide; an officer will be assigned to conduct security inspections around your home while you are away.

If you are departing in less than 24 hours, please do not use the form and instead, call 610-649-1000.

Child and Infant Car Seat Safety: A message from the Lower Merion Township Health Advisory Council

Infant and child car seats are one of the best ways to keep our kids safe when traveling in a vehicle.  While we all believe we are installing the car seats and buckling our children in safely, doing so in a proper manner is critical.

There are several resources in the area to make an appointment for a free car seat check.  Visit Free Car Seat Check Resources to learn more.

If you do not have a car seat for your child and cannot afford one, call Montgomery County Office of Public Health at: 610-278-5119.

Lower Merion School District wants to hear from you!

Do you have thoughts you want to share about elementary school playgrounds? Take the architects' survey now through July 2, 2025. 

Parks and Recreation Discount Tickets

Lower Merion Library Museum Pass Program

Looking for something fun to do this summer?  Lower Merion Library's offer free passes that can be checked out on a first‐come, first served basis, for 3 days by anyone with a library card registered with the Lower Merion Library System. Each library has a different selection, use the link below to see what each library has to offer. Most passes include admission for two adults and four or more children, as well as discounts to some museum gift shops.

Free July 4th Coloring Page

PECO Storm Safety and Outage Tips

for Summer Storms.

If your lights go out, PECO offers several ways for you to report your outage. Save these links now so they are quickly and easily accessible if you need them.

• Using the PECO Mobile App
• Texting "ADDOUTAGE" to MYPECO (67326)
• Reporting Online
• Call PECO directly 1-800-841-4141, available 24/7

Check the Outage Map for the most up to date outage information

Seniors travel free on all SEPTA transit routes (bus, trolley, trackless trolley, and Market-Frankford Line [L], Broad Street Line [B], and Norristown High Speed Line [M]). They also ride for free on Regional Rail as long as their departure and arrival stations are located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For travel to or from stations in New Jersey or Delaware, the cost is 50%.

Have a Fun Fourth in Bala Cynwyd

Americana will be on colorful display in Bala Cynwyd this July Fourth as the community turns out for its big annual family parade and celebration. The general public is invited to the free event, which traditionally draws at least five hundred holiday-goers.

The parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. at the Union Fire House, 149 Montgomery Ave., on a route that leads to the main festivities at Bala Cynwyd Park, 374 Trevor Lane. The exuberant procession features a marching band, neighborhood children on decorated bicycles, clowns, floats, fire trucks, the bicycle patrol, local officials, and guests of honor.

Activities at the park include carnival rides, a petting zoo, exotic animals, a trackless train, an extreme rock wall and a carousel, as well as foot races for both youngsters and adults and the ever-popular egg toss. The festivities will begin there with a patriotic program and an awards ceremony. The Summer Sounds Pop Band will perform for the crowd at the park as well.

The Union Fire Association will sell hot dogs and sodas to raise funds for the Fire House.

The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, the Main Line’s oldest civic association, sponsors the annual July Fourth celebration. The Club will have a booth at Bala Cynwyd Park selling tickets or bracelets for the rides.

Come out to support the Main Line Run!  This fundraiser supports the Main Line Chamber Foundation Hometown Heroes Event, which provides scholarships to our volunteer firefighters and EMT's.  This year's event provided $56,000 in scholarships to volunteers on the main line, including Union Fire Company, Merion Fire Company of Ardmore, Narberth Ambulance, Penn Wynne Overbrook Hills, Bryn Mawr Fire Company and Belmont Hills Fire Company!