The site’s sale in 2014 launched a unique recreation project led by longtime Municipal Engineer Jeffrey Shue of C.S. Davidson and Township leaders.
One of Jeffrey Shue’s favorite childhood memories is visiting Little Creek Golf Course with his grandmother. They’d stop by the clubhouse for a bite to eat, then head out for a round of golf. Decades later, Jeffrey returned, not to tee off, but as Jackson Township’s engineer of record through C.S. Davidson, ready to help reimagine the site as Little Creek Community Park.
Collaboration with a shared vision
As the Township sought space for recreational development, and with a need for stormwater compliance, its purchase of the golf course was an easy decision. In April 2014, the deal was finalized. When Flo Ford came on board as Township Manager in 2019, a strong collaboration quickly formed, and Jeffrey and Flo continued the project’s development into a regional park.
“It’s great having Jeff and C.S. Davidson. He has the history,” Flo says. “He’s able to backfill a lot of information, which would have been virtually impossible to pull, so it’s been really a good collaboration.”
Together, they helped turn what could have been a typical development project into a community gem.
Putting the environment first
C.S. Davidson joined the team of environmental scientists, recreational planners, Township staff, and elected officials to create a flexible master plan that allowed construction in phases to match available funding. Instead of focusing first on playgrounds or athletic fields, the transformation started with a stream restoration project that included planting roughly 25 trees. An additional 275 trees were planted in the riparian buffer and meadow by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, all of which were necessary for Jackson Township to meet Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System stormwater regulations and help protect the Chesapeake Bay.
“Environmental evaluation first is what I always stress,” says Jeffrey, a licensed Professional Engineer. “This is so that you can have the recreation showcase the environmental work that you did and be an added asset not a detriment to your park.”
With help from partners such as the state Department of Environmental Protection and the York County Stormwater Consortium, the Township secured nearly $427,000 in funding. By the project’s end, about 2,000 feet of stream bank had been reshaped and stabilized. Almost 300 native trees were planted, abutments for future pedestrian bridges were installed with the stream improvements, and the once flood-prone stream was transformed into a thriving, natural waterway.
The environmental work created an anchor for the rest of the park. Blue herons, finches, and red-winged blackbirds now thrive where fairways once lay. Wide, sloped stream banks slow floodwaters and encourage infiltration, adding resilience and beauty to the site. The Chesapeake Bay Alliance planted a wildflower field that stretches for six acres along a paved walking path, providing a habitat for honeybees and butterflies.
Purposeful design, phased development
After stream restoration, the team moved forward with its thoughtful park design. Phase 1 included building pedestrian paths, a tot lot, a multiuse field, and a pavilion funded through a combination of grants and local business contributions. Phase 2 added a paved parking lot and courts for pickleball and basketball with pervious pavement to allow for water infiltration.
A second, larger playground was completed in late spring 2025 and is proving to be a favorite recreation element for area families.
“Everything we designed here was meant to be blended into the park so that when you look around, you don’t see stormwater controls, you see vegetation,” Jeffrey says.
Originally, the park was to have more traditional athletic fields. But through conversations and community input, priorities shifted.
“This facility addresses a broad demographic base,” Jeffrey says, noting it would be of use to everyone. “The improvements are beneficial for the entire community.”
Growing with the community
The park’s layout is built to adapt to various needs. The large pavilion features roll-down sides for year-round use. Playgrounds are positioned for future expansion. Stormwater basins double as landscape features, blending into the natural surroundings.
Today, Little Creek Community Park is more than a green space. It’s a venue for food truck nights, Santa visits, the annual Pumpkin Trail, and other events. There are plans for a dog agility area and additional playground elements. On the other side of Route 116, the back nine holes of Little Creek Golf Course are still in full swing. Jeffrey and Flo don’t see that changing anytime soon, as the public course is just as beloved as the new Little Creek Community Park.
“It meets the needs of all age groups and every generation,” Flo says of the combined recreation area. “That’s what we want to continue.”
A partnership that works
At the heart of the park’s success is the working relationship between Flo, Jeffrey, and the rest of the Township team.
“We talk and we help each other out on the grants, too,” Flo says. “I always have another set of eyes looking at the grant application. We just work well together that way.”
Jeffrey echoes that sentiment.
“I think this is a testament that when you must listen to the input of the community and adjust the improvements accordingly to that feedback. And anticipate the needs of the public based on what was successful elsewhere, in this case incorporating strong environmental aspects into the development enriched the overall park,” he says.
For Jeffrey, working on this project has felt like the pinnacle of a rich and diverse engineering career.
“I grew up in York, and I work with municipal government to address all their community needs. This is one of the places that I have strong memories of from very early in my life that transitioned into my professional career,” he says. “This project is one that blends my engineering efforts into a recreational development that truly improves the community’s quality of life.”