Randolph Woods in Malvern: Why the 2026 Rebuild Puts Trees First
October 8, 2026
October 8, 2026
Randolph Woods is open this fall, and it is partway through a rebuild. The Borough Engineer's September 1 update reported a finished boardwalk and a pedestrian bridge close to done. Crews were moving on to the pavilion and the nature-play area and clearing equipment off the new loop trail. The Borough expects construction to run through fall 2026, and the update gives no opening date.
Several things on a walk right now can look strange: a stone path where pavement might be expected, a tall mesh fence through the middle of the woods, and a driveway that seems to be missing its top layer. Each one comes from one of two constraints. A conservation easement keeps the preserve mostly natural, and years of deer browsing have left the forest unable to replace its own trees. The Borough is building amenities around the restoration, so walkers are seeing the restoration first.
Phase 1 started on June 9, 2026. The June notice warned that parts of the preserve might close for short periods or have limited access while crews worked. The latest Borough update, posted September 2 and last revised September 30, gives this picture:
| Element | Status per the Borough | What shaped it |
|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk and viewing platform | Boardwalk complete | Raised walking over sensitive ground |
| Pedestrian bridge | Nearing completion | Phase 1 scope |
| Accessible loop trail | Stone surface; equipment being cleared | Conservation easement restricts asphalt |
| Pavilion and picnic area | Next up | Phase 1 scope |
| Nature-play area | Next up | Phase 1 scope, funded since 2021 |
| Deer fence and gates | Gates installed spring 2026, adjustments made | Forest regeneration |
| Drive and parking lot paving | Final wearing course deferred as of April | Protecting the surface during construction |
The rest of Phase 1 is benches, bike racks, signs, and landscaping.
At its April 28, 2026 meeting, the Borough's Public Works committee described the new trail as an ADA-compliant stone system. The minutes say it is functional and that asphalt "would be preferred under typical conditions" but is restricted by conservation requirements.
The restriction comes from Willistown Conservation Trust, which holds the conservation easement on Randolph Woods while Malvern Borough owns the land. A 2023 report in The Quad, West Chester University's student newspaper, says the easement has been in place since 2001 and limits uses to protect habitat. The Borough's FAQ says the easement limits development and keeps the preserve "primarily a natural space focused on passive recreation like walking, birdwatching, and nature exploration."
The Trust's interest goes beyond scenery. Its program area covers the headwaters of Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creeks. In 2022, Malvern's Borough Council President described Randolph Woods as surrounding the headwaters of Crum Creek. A packed-stone trail in the woods at the top of a creek system is a deliberate trade. The Borough gets a path that works for strollers and wheelchairs, and the Trust gets a surface that stays within the easement's terms.
The deer fence has drawn the most questions, and the Borough's FAQ answers them directly. It says forest health has been declining because of invasive plants, erosion, and high deer numbers.
"For many years, deer have eaten nearly all young trees and native plants in Randolph Woods. Without help, the forest cannot recover on its own."
According to the Borough, the fence protects "the heart of the preserve," where the damage is worst, so that native plants, wildflowers, and tree seedlings can grow back. It is a tall mesh fence on wooden posts, built to be see-through, and it uses the same type of mesh that preserves across Pennsylvania use to protect forest understories. The FAQ calls it part of a long-planned project based on years of ecological study and grant approvals. The Borough moved ahead once funding, permits, and scheduling lined up.
The practical details for walkers:
Neighbors near the fence line have raised a concern the Borough answers in the FAQ. Citing state wildlife experts and similar projects in the region, it says deer already use neighborhoods and roads, some may change their movement patterns in the short term, and they usually shift to other wooded corridors. The FAQ also says the Borough is exploring a deer management initiative, with discussion running through its Public Safety Subcommittee.
Before Phase 1 began, a smaller Phase 1A was bid for the driveway and sidewalks, accessible ramps, parking-lot renovations, the deer fencing, and park signage. Its contract target for substantial completion was December 19, 2025. As of April 28, 2026, paving was still underway, and the final wearing course was being held back to protect the surface while heavy construction continued. The Borough has not posted a Phase 1A completion signoff. A drive that looks unfinished is consistent with the plan to lay the top coat once trucks stop using it.
The bridge and pavilion appearing this fall were paid for in grant cycles that go back several years:
The 2021 scope already reads like the current construction list. In April 2026, the committee was also reviewing possible savings of about $100,000 on bridge and boardwalk materials submitted by the Phase 1 contractor. Randolph Woods also has a longer planning history. Borough Council minutes from 2017 note that it was already part of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan completed in 1992.
The same priorities came up in 2023 over a Borough-owned 0.847-acre tract off Ruthland Avenue, next to the fire company and Randolph Woods. The May 16 primary ballot asked whether to place a Willistown Conservation Trust easement on the tract for passive recreation. The easement would bar bikes, a bike path, or a pump park. Voters approved it 537 to 417, as Patch reported at the end of that month. Later public records do not confirm whether the easement was formally recorded.
During the debate a year earlier, the Daily Local cited a Valley Forge Audubon Society officer's count of 24 bird species breeding in the Malvern forest at issue and 22 visiting during fall migration. The ballot and the easement both point toward woods managed for habitat and quiet use.
Willistown Conservation Trust's guide lists the preserve at Ruthland Avenue and the Duffryn Trail. The Duffryn Trail runs through the woods and is owned by Willistown Township. The guide describes "primitive trails" of unpaved, packed earth suited to walkers and hikers. Until the loop is fully cleared, a visit has three kinds of path: the older earthen trails, the new stone loop, and the finished boardwalk.
The fenced core is where the Borough expects native plants, wildflowers, and tree seedlings to come back first.
Brent Erickson's background is engineering and construction, and he follows projects like Randolph Woods for the same reason he looks closely at a house before advising on it: trade-offs like stone instead of asphalt, or a fence before a pavilion, show what a property is being protected for. If you'd like to talk through how preserved land and local projects like this one shape the area around your home, Brent Lyle Erickson is glad to talk it through. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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