Tree Removal First Signs Of Construction For New Pennsbury High School

The first signs of upcoming construction for the new Pennsbury High School began last week.

Contractors took down several trees at the site on the new high school along Hood Boulevard.

Trees around the soccer field were taken down and turned into wood chips.

Jennifer Neill, the district’s spokesperson, said the work was part of mobilization for the start of building construction.

Not all the trees will be taken down, according to Neill, who noted two large trees at the entrance to the current East campus will remain as they are considered “heritage trees” under Falls Township ordinance.

Activity at the site in Falls Township is expected to ramp up over the summer as work gets underway for the $269.5 million Pennsbury High School.

Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith recently let the community know that early phases of the project will include the delivery of heavy equipment and the installation of perimeter fencing.

“As construction begins, you can expect several temporary changes on campus,” Smith wrote in a message to the community. “Parking for all events will be more limited than usual, and a construction fence will be installed around designated areas of the property.”

Smith said all contractors are required to have appropriate clearances and that construction zones will remain secure and completely separate from students and school activities.

The district recently announced that the gravel parking lot off Queen Anne Drive will be blocked off.

Because existing campus parking is already at capacity, displaced student drivers are being directed to look for parking on Hood Boulevard, utilize school buses, carpool, or arrange for parental drop-offs.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, Pennsbury administrators issued a note to high school students stating that parking priority will be given to seniors due to the restricted space.

The planned 495,000-square-foot facility is designed to hold between 2,800 and 3,000 students and staff.

The project has received approvals from both the Falls Township Board of Supervisors and the Bristol Township Council. The campus sits largely within Falls Township and a small portion of the property crosses into Bristol Township.

District officials project the new high school will open in September 2029.

Demolition of the current East and West buildings is scheduled to take place in October 2029.

According to plans presented by KCBA Architects, the state-of-the-art facility will feature an eight-lane swimming pool, a 3,000-seat gymnasium, and an 800-seat auditorium with specialized spaces for the arts. The layout also includes a 250-foot-long commons area equipped with eight study nooks, as well as gender-neutral restrooms featuring sinks located in monitored corridors.

Security measures for the new building include a secure vestibule with bulletproof glass and the installation of more than 300 cameras, officials said.

The plans also account for potential future enrollment growth and give room for a 40-classroom expansion if necessary.

Funding for the multi-million-dollar project relies on borrowed funds paired with a 14.6-mill property tax increase phased over a four-year period.

Officials previously projected that a homeowner with a median property assessment of $32,000 will see a first-year tax increase of $287.

School officials have stated the new facility is needed for the district’s future, but the project has drawn scrutiny from some community members, who have raised concerns over the total price tag, the scale of the building, and the overall impact of the surrounding neighborhoods.