French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust recently permanently preserved the Thompson Farm in Charlestown Township, Chester County. In 1960, Jim and Mary Jo Thompson bought 450 acres, and in July, 2019 the Thompsons placed an easement on 23 acres of the property to ensure its protection forever. The property borders another preserved property and encompasses hillsides read more
PALTA Publishes 24 New and Revised Guides, Including Guide to Permits for Using Conserved Lands
Permits for Events, Hunting, Camping, and Other Uses of Conserved Lands Requiring permits for certain activities on conservation lands (such as events, hunting, and camping) helps land managers ensure that the activities do not negatively impact the land or others’ enjoyment of it. The permit-application process can also serve to inform users of the rules for using the land. read more
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy Preserves Avis Canoe Launch
Sometimes you have to buy a property people think is already public and actually make it public. Thanks to support from Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) members and extra help from George and Shirley Durrwachter, that just happened. For years, people have used a property on the Avis side of the Route 150 bridge over Pine Creek to get on and off the creek in read more
Lebanon Valley Conservancy Preserves 172 Acres of Farmland
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC) has announced the preservation of 172 acres of land in the Lebanon Valley, located along the Kittatinny Ridge. This valuable agricultural land has been preserved through a grant of conservation easement, in partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. The preserved land includes 71.75 acres of the Nye farm and just over 100 read more
PALTA Publishes New Guidance on Liability Protection
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published new and updated guidance on the protections provided to land trusts, local governments, and other landowners against claims of personal injury and loss of property by people using their land. PALTA developed substantial amendments to Pennsylvania's Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) signed into law by Governor read more
Foundation for Sustainable Forests Protects 436 Acres in Warren County
The Foundation for Sustainable Forests recently conserved 436 acres of working woodlands in Warren County’s Southwest and Eldred townships. The conserved lands are comprised of three parcels within the Caldwell Creek watershed, a priority area of conservation for FSF. In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation read more
Natural Lands Hires New VP of Communications and Engagement
Natural Lands announced it has hired Kelly Herrenkohl as its new vice president of communications and engagement. Herrenkohl has spent the past decade working for Vetri Community Partnership, which promotes health and wellness through teaching basic cooking skills to children and families. “While cooking and land preservation may seem at odds with one another, they are read more
FCVC Completes New Boat Launch on Conserved Property
The French Creek Valley Conservancy (FCVC) recently completed the installation of a new boat launch along French Creek on Wadsworth Avenue in Meadville. The Joe Cat Launch, named for Joe Catalano, is the result of a multiyear effort by the Catalano family to raise funds to honor the family patriarch. Catalano grew up in the Fifth Ward and was a lover of French Creek, read more
Ag Land Preservation Board Preserves 47 More Farms, Bringing Total to 5,540
On June 13, Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board announced the preservation of 47 farms across Pennsylvania. “Preserving farmland is a team effort among diverse groups united in our effort to spare the state’s best agricultural soils from development,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Together we help farmers to take an important read more
Delaware Highlands Conservancy to Preserve Foster Hill Farm
Foster Hill Farm, the former Milford home of local philanthropist and business owner Dick Snyder, has been bequeathed to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC). The farm will soon be transferred to the Conservancy and will be placed under conservation easement. In his typical altruistic spirit, Mr. Snyder made the Conservancy the beneficiary of Foster Hill Farm knowing that read more
From Conservancy Intern to Full-Time Planner
Earlier this spring, Sarah Sharp joined the Brandywine Conservancy’s staff as a new assistant planner in its Municipal Assistance Program. Sarah previously worked at the Conservancy as a planning intern for three months prior to accepting her full-time position. She is currently finishing up course work at West Chester University for a dual M.S. in geography/urban and regional read more
Chester County Return on Environment Report Released
Protected open spaces provide substantial economic, environmental, and health benefits to surrounding communities, but these benefits are often overlooked or undervalued in policy debates and investment decisions. A better understanding of these benefits can demonstrate how protected open space contributes to economic development and fiscal stability and can reverse the common read more
LCAC Preserves 142-Acre Farm Near Gettysburg Battlefield
Ask Barb Wolf about farming, and she goes directly to the heart of the matter: “It’s what we do, and who we are.” The Wolf family has been farming their 142 acres in Cumberland Township for 98 years, and three generations. Phil and Barb are full-time farmers, and they can’t imagine a future in which their hay and wheat fields are paved over to make room for a housing read more
New PALTA Tool for Review: Find a Trail Group
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has published for public review and feedback the beta version of a tool for finding trail groups across Pennsylvania. The map-based tool allows users to search for groups by county or identify the groups associated with a specific trail. It also allows users to search by trail type and other criteria. The tool’s purpose is to help people read more
PALTA Honors Stroud Township with Local Government Conservation Leadership Award
On Saturday, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PALTA) honored Stroud Township with the 2019 Government Conservation Leadership Award. Representatives from the township received the award at the annual Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference, held this year at Skytop Lodge. Many Pennsylvania municipalities are blessed with significant land and water resources. But read more