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THE COUNTY’S OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NETWORK
1740s Colonial era also located in Whitemarsh, and Mather
Mill (3.3 acres), a restored gristmill located along the
Wissahickon Creek, located one block from Hope Lodge.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission owns two hunting
preserves (505 acres) in Montgomery County, both located
in Limerick Township. These state game lands are open to
hunting during specified seasons.
Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Sites
Montgomery County owns or manages more than 6,000
acres of permanently preserved open space. Most of this
acreage is associated with large county parks and historic
sites, with additional land located along the Schuylkill River
Greenway. As an operating philosophy, the Montgomery
County Parks and Heritage Services Division manages parks
for a variety of outdoor recreation uses but does not provide
athletic facilities.
Central Perkiomen Valley Park
(464 acres) is a greenway
park system along the Perkiomen Creek containing the
Perkiomen Trail and picnic areas. Most of this land is
managed as natural open space.
Green Lane Park
(3,062 acres) provides for different
types of water based recreation such as boating and
fishing, centered around 814-acre Green Lane Reservoir,
Deep Creek Lake and Knight Lake. As the largest county
park, the Green Lane Park also offers a variety of outdoor
and recreation experiences including hiking, horseback
riding, mountain bike riding, picnicking, outdoor concerts,
and bird watching.
Lorimer Park
(230 acres) straddles the Pennypack Creek
and was established due to the bequest from the late George
Horace Lorimer (longtime editor-in-chief of
The Saturday
Evening Post
). The park provides picnic facilities and an
extensive trail system, including the Pennypack Trail.
Lower Perkiomen Valley Park
(89.6 acres) contains
picnic areas and portions of the Perkiomen Trail along the
Perkiomen Creek in Oaks. It also contains large mowed
field areas that can be used for a variety of activities and
group events.
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
(249
acres), the former residence of famed naturalist John
Audubon, provides a historic setting and a natural area
operated jointly with the Audubon Society. The county
and Audubon Society are working to develop a new
visitors center and education facility at this site.
Norristown Farm Park
(810 acres) combines
agricultural land with recreation areas providing trails,
picnic grounds, and a concert amphitheater. This
property is owned by the state, but is managed entirely by
the county as a park facility.
Pennypack Mills Mansion
(181 acres) contains a
historic estate with a Colonial Revival mansion and
barn used as a museum. The property contains
farmland and adjoins portions of the Central Perkiomen
Valley Park and lands owned by the Perkiomen
Watershed Conservancy.
Peter Wentz Farmstead
(106 acres) is an 18th century
Pennsylvania German farm that served as headquarters
for General George Washington in October 1777. The
site hosts various historic reenactment events and is
visited by various people, including school groups.
Pottsgrove Manor
(2 acres) is a restored 18th century
Georgian manor house once owned by iron master John
Potts, the founder of Pottstown.
Spring Mill Park
(31 acres) is an unopened park along
the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail in
Spring Mill.
Boy Scout troop hiking at Valley Forge National
Historical Park.
Group picnic at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park.
Children enjoying the cool water in Pottstown’s
Memorial Park.
