SUSTAINABLE PLACES
44
...permanently protect additional environmentally-sensitive parkland while improving county parks
The county’s parks and historic sites are important assets that will be expanded and improved over time in accordance with
park master plans, often through partnerships with private sector and non-profit organizations.
The trend of preserving additional land for public use/and or conservation should be encouraged over the next ten years, with
logical park expansions and preservation of key natural resource areas continuing to be a priority. However, assembling small
parcels or corridors of parkland, especially in urban and downtown areas, should also be a priority in order to bring nature into
developed areas, green the places where people live, and spur revitalization of older portions of the county. Success should be
measured in terms of gaps completed, connections made, public access provided, landscapes restored, and wise stewardship
policies instituted rather than in terms of specific acreage goals met.
The county will work to maintain the environmental quality of its parks through good stewardship. This will include
removal of invasive plants, installation of stormwater best management practices, use of stream stabilization projects, and
implementation of wildlife control, including deer and geese management. In addition, the county will work with federal,
state, and local agencies to ensure that their parks continue to thrive as great amenities for the county.
■■ Improvements installed in
county parks
■■ Proposed Conservation
Opportunity Areas
preserved as county
parkland
Measuring success
Conservation Objectives
Priority Project Areas
County Parks, Historic Sites, Natural Areas
Provide appropriate public access to underutilized or unopened sites
Sunrise Mill; Mingo Basin; Spring Mountain; Green Lane Park
Acquire/protect parcels that fill gaps
Spring Mountain; Pennypacker Mills; Pottsgrove Manor; Lorimer Park
Develop master site and resource management plans for each site
Spring Mountain; Sunrise Mill; Lorimer Park
Institute stewardship policies and best management practices
All county sites
CountyTrails and Greenways
Make trail and greenway connections between county sites
Lock 60 to Upper Schuylkill Valley Park; Cross County Trail
Promote completed trail network as collaborative linear park
Perkiomen Trail; Pennypack Trail
Facilitate local connector trails
All county sites
Protect context essential for trail experience
Perkiomen Trail; Pennypack Trail; Schuylkill River Trail
Schuylkill River Corridor
Acquire/preserve/connect key remaining riverfront areas
West Pottsgrove riverfront to Schuylkill Canal area
Protect special properties as greenway anchors
Barbadoes Island; Oaks Basin
Mentor/assist municipalities to create riverfront greenway districts
Royersford; Norristown; Pottstown
Special Conservation Landscapes
Acquire/protect relevant properties within NAI conservation landscapes
Bethayres Swamp; Unami corridor Sumneytown to Crusher
Give special protection to NAI conservation landscapes within county sites
Green Lane Park; Spring Mountain; Sunrise Mill
Promote good stewardship throughout each NAI conservation landscape
All conservation landscapes
