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THE COUNTY’S OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NETWORK
PLANNING ISSUE
Open space preservation
requires more partnerships
and creative solutions as
funding becomes more limited
and land becomes more
scarce.
What’s New
•
Since 2000, 7,657 acres of land have been preserved
in the county through purchase by municipalities,
private conservation organizations, and the county.
•
Since 2005, three municipalities, Whitemarsh, New
Hanover and Upper Pottsgrove Townships, have
adopted an open space funding tax. Two other
municipalities, Upper Merion and Upper Dublin
Townships, passed open space bond funding through
referendums.
•
Partnerships between private conservation
organizations and government resulted in the
preservation of the 449-acre Erdenheim Farm. The
National Park Service expanded Valley Forge
National Historical Park with the addition of the 78-
acre property acquired from the National Center for
the American Revolution. The county acquired the
97-acre Schuylkill Canal area.
•
With recent public financing challenges that began in
2008, revenue sources for open space have
decreased— limiting the ability of most local
governments and conservation organizations to
protect open space.
Preserved Open Space
Temporary Open Space
Recreation Facilities
Trails and Pathways
Preserved Open Space
The county contains approximately 41,514 acres of
permanently preserved land, or 13.4% of the total land in the
county. These permanently protected lands are comprised
primarily of publicly accessible park and historic sites, held
under federal, state, county, and municipal ownership.
Additional protected land, which may provide limited or no
public access, includes preserved farmland, natural areas,
and properties under conservation easements. Farmland
preservation is discussed separately in the County Economy
section. Other properties not included in the preserved land
totals include land owned by homeowners associations and
various community groups.
Federal and State Parks
Valley Forge National Historical Park
(total of 3,466
acres, with 1,964 situated in Montgomery County) is
administered by the National Park Service (NPS) as a
national historic site of the Continental Army’s 1777-78
winter encampment.
Evansburg State Park
(3,349 acres), administered by the
Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, follows the Skippack
Creek and provides recreational activities including fishing,
hunting, nature study and environmental education, and
trails for equestrians and hikers. The property was
originally acquired by the Commonwealth to develop a
multipurpose lake.
Fort Washington State Park
(484 acres) is another state
park located in Whitemarsh Township, encompassing
woodlands and a stream valley, with scenic views across a
historic landscape that includes Fort Hill and Militia Hill.
In addition, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission (PHMC) operates four historic sites in
Montgomery County. Graeme Park
in Horsham Township
containing the historic Keith House (41.72 acres), The
Highlands
(43.3 acres), a late 18th century Georgian
mansion with formal gardens in Whitemarsh Township,
Hope Lodge
(38.8 acres), a Georgian home dating to the
Green Lane Reservoir at Green Lane Park.
