“Hey, ever noticed that patch of green just a stone’s throw from Philadelphia International Airport?” I am talking about the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. It is a surprising sanctuary amidst the urban sprawl. This 1,200-acre refuge protects Pennsylvania’s largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge has a rich history. The Lenape people, the area’s first known settlers, called Tinicum Marsh “Tennakon Minquas” or “islands of the marsh.” They fished, hunted, and gathered here for centuries before European settlers arrived in the mid-1600s.
Before the settlers came, the marshland spread across more than 5,000 acres. But settlers drained and filled the marshes to create farmland and grazing land. As Philadelphia grew, the marshes shrank. By the 1950s, only 200 acres of Tinicum Marsh remained.
But the story does not end there. In 1953, a birdwatcher named Allston Jenkins learned of plans to dump dredge spoils into the marsh. He and other activists formed the Philadelphia Conservationists. This group successfully fought to save Tinicum Marsh. In 1955, Gulf Oil donated 145 acres to the city for a wildlife preserve.
Threats continued. In 1969, there were plans to route Interstate 95 through the marsh and build a landfill. Local residents and organizations took action. Through legal challenges and public hearings, they stopped the highway and the landfill.
In 1972, Congress authorized the protection of up to 1,200 acres. This established Tinicum National Environmental Center. In 1991, the refuge was renamed to honor Senator John Heinz. He was committed to conserving the marsh.
Today, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge boasts five varied habitats. There is freshwater tidal marsh, impounded water, woods, meadow, and field. This diversity attracts all forms of wildlife. Birdwatchers have recorded over 300 bird species here. Eighty-five species nest within the refuge.
Migratory birds use the refuge as a resting and feeding spot. Warblers, egrets, sandpipers, and ducks all stop here during their spring and fall flights. The refuge also drains the impoundment in early fall. This creates a mudflat that attracts migrating shorebirds.
Deer, opossums, foxes, raccoons, and beavers also find refuge here. You may even spot river otters, minks, woodchucks, and muskrats. A wide variety of wildflowers and plants thrive here, too.
Visitors can explore over 10 miles of trails. The Wetland Loop Trail features a boardwalk that crosses the emergent wetland. Another boardwalk extends over Tinicum Marsh. Canoeing is also popular on the 4.5-mile stretch of Darby Creek.
Fishing is permitted along the main dike trail and the Trolley Bed trail. Common fish include carp, catfish, and bass. The refuge provides learning opportunities for students. The Cusano Environmental Education Center offers state-of-the-art facilities. It promotes reconnecting children and families to nature. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge truly is an urban oasis.