SAVE BIG ELK CREEK
providing recreational opportunities while preserving nature
DCNR has carefully executed a bait and switch effort on southern Chester County residents
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS - OPINION
By Blair Fleischmann Jan. 29, 2025
"The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been a great partner to Chester County in the preservation of open space and natural resources. This is why residents and local officials were so shocked in late 2023 when PA DCNR unveiled plans for development of the Strawbridge property in Elk and Franklin townships."
To truly protect the Big Elk Creek State Park, DCNR should enter into a conservation easement with a land trust
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS - OPINION
Eileen Butler Jan. 22, 2025
"Secretary Dunn considers the word "preserve" as a weaponized term, meant to keep others out of the area. I take offense to that sentiment."
Standing united against DCNR’s ‘bait and switch’ in plans for Big Elk Creek Preserve
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
By Andrew Dinniman Jan. 15, 2025
"The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) has succeeded - that is, in uniting the community against their plans for the Big Elk Creek Preserve. Municipalities, including Elk, Franklin, London Britain, East Nottingham, Oxford, Penn Township, Lower Oxford, and Upper Oxford have issued official statements against the DCNR plan and stated their support of the original state commitment for a preserve."
A look at what's coming to Susquehanna Riverlands, Big Elk and Vosburg Neck state parks
GO ERIE
Brian Whipkey Oct. 2, 2024
"In southern Chester County, Big Elk Creek State Park has been created on 1,800 acres of forest and farmland and includes Big Elk Creek. The DCNR reports the park acts as a wildlife corridor and provides refuge for an array of threatened and endangered species."
Maryland, Pennsylvania natural resources officials meet over park partnership
CECIL WHIG
By Jane Bellmyer Sep. 11, 2024
"Kurtz and Dunn agreed that both parks have similar missions — cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and increasing the amount of park land for public recreation and education — and agreed they should have a partnership."
Campground Plans for Big Elk Creek State Park Put on Hold—For Now
EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN
Marcella Peyre-Ferry Sep. 2024
"When horsemen and their neighbors come together on local issues their input can make a difference. Public outcry, complete with petitions, packed public meetings and protest lawn signs lining almost every street in the area have saved the Big Elk Creek State Park from construction of a campground – at least for the time being."
Active or passive? Plans for Pennsylvania state park spark controversy
BAY JOURNAL
By Ad Crable Jul. 25, 2024
"But in creating Big Elk Creek State Park in September 2022, DCNR has found its vision of making the property “a destination” heatedly rejected by the local populace. Residents, local officials and private foundations in Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania have spent three decades fighting to save the 1,800 acres of historically significant open space, long owned by Campbell Soup Company family member George Strawbridge Jr."
Big Elk Creek State Park should be more like a preserve
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS - OPINION
Ciaran Weatherill Jul. 17, 2024
"I am a scout from Troop 30. I’m messaging you in pursuit of a merit badge that I am working on. One thing to do to earn a merit badge is to share my opinion on a subject. I chose to give my personal opinion on the subject of the Big Elk Creek State Park."
Pennsylvania House Republicans hold policy committee hearing on Big Elk Creek State Park
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
By Gabbie Burton Jul. 17, 2024
"The Pennsylvania House Republicans held a policy committee hearing on July 9 at Avon Grove High School that addressed the community’s continued concerns over the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) plans to develop a portion of Big Elk Creek State Park – which they own -- into campgrounds and additional facilities. The three-hour long hearing – organized by Rep. John Lawrence and the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee led by Vice Chairman Torren Ecker – drew more than 150 passionate residents and featured three panels: the DCNR’s panel, the community officials’ panel and a panel made up of community leaders."
Our opinion: Be wary of growing government
TIMES OBSERVER
Unattributed Jul. 15, 2024
"Most of us, after all, will never set foot in the Big Elk Creek State Park. But the controversy over improvements to the park does have an impact here in a couple of ways. First is the seemingly insatiable need for state agencies to expand the amount of land the state owns."
Lawmakers, residents call on DCNR to make Big Elk a ‘preserve’ as fight to save watershed from state development heats up
THE DAILY LOCAL
By Jen Samuel Jul. 14, 2024
"Southern Chester County residents who’ve lived in the area for more than a decade can recall a longtime plan, or dream, to connect the wilderness of the White Clay, Big Elk, and Fair Hill lands into a truly united regional preserve. And that dream was cited on Tuesday when more than 160 people filled the auditorium of Avon Grove High School for a public hearing, hosted by the Republican Policy Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, on the future of the Big Elk Creek watershed."
Debate intensifies Over Development of Big Elk Creek State Park
MY CHESCO
By Maryann Pugh Jul. 13, 2024
"On Tuesday, Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester) and the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee, led by Vice Chairman Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland), held a hearing on the proposed development of Big Elk Creek State Park. The hearing drew more than 160 community members to the new Avon Grove High School in Jennersville."
State park fight highlights tension between state agency, local power
THE CENTER SQUARE PENNSYLVANIA
By Anthony Hennen Jul. 09, 2024
"Though the fight over a state park in southeast Pennsylvania may seem small, it has statewide implications. As former state senator Andrew Dinniman argued in his testimony, it’s a question of who holds authority and power in Pennsylvania. “Who runs this commonwealth? Is it the bureaucracy or is it the legislature?” Dinniman said. “The bureaucracy has replaced our elected officials.”"
Residents join lawmakers to oppose state's plan to develop Big Elk Creek watershed into 'tourist attraction'
THE DAILY LOCAL
By Jen Samuel Jul. 8, 2024
"The future of the Big Elk Creek watershed is at stake. The public is invited to attend legislative hearing on the future of the nearly 1,800-acre state park this Tuesday at Avon Grove High School."
Plans for Big Elk Creek State Park should be reconsidered
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS - OPINION
By Jason Blom Jul. 03, 2024
"I am a Boy Scout from Troop 62 living in Franklin Township. I am emailing you to share my opinion on some issues in my community centered around a new State Park. I live right in the center of the Big Elk Creek State Park, which was only farmland and wooded areas just a couple of years ago. As the DCNR is transforming this land into a State Park, they are proposing many plans and possible changes that I believe are not suitable for a park that has so much natural value."
Plans to build campground at Big Elk Creek State Park put on hold after public outcry
KYW NEWSRADIO
By Conner Barkon Jan. 31, 2024
"Residents who are against the project are relieved, but skeptical. Many had petitioned construction on the Landenberg campground, saying the development would ruin natural habitats and turn the area into a tourist attraction."
Pennsylvania park officials drop campground plans for Big Elk Creek State Park
WHYY
By Zoë Read Jan. 30, 2024
"The pushback has prompted the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to pause any camping considerations, said spokesman Wesley Robinson. The agency is also creating a new task force of local public officials and other stakeholders to discuss its future plans for the park, he said."
Opponents of Chester County campground feel confident but cautious after packed meeting
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
By Jason Nark Jan. 26, 2024
"The applause is muted in the video, but a Chester County commissioner's opening remarks about a controversial plan to build a campground there set the tone for the standing-room-only meeting."
Capacity audience protests DCNR’s plans for Big Elk Creek State Park
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
By Richard Gaw Jan. 18, 2024
An overflow audience of more than 500 area residents, elected officials and representatives from various area conservation groups filled the Avon Grove Charter School auditorium on Jan. 10 for a nearly three-hour meeting to voice their continuing opposition to a proposed plan by the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to develop significant infrastructure at Big Elk Creek State Park.
Proposal to build campground at Big Elk Creek State Park gets backlash from environmental activists, fearing a threat to wildlife
KWY NEWSRADIO
By John McDevitt Dec. 21, 2023
Big Elk Creek State Park is nearly 1,800 acres and provides refuge for an array of threatened and endangered animal and plant species. Bald eagles can be seen in the park too, though they were taken off the threatened species endangered list in 2007. But Anteia Consorto of Chester County is concerned about them and other animals potentially leaving the area if a campground is established in the park.
Camping is planned for a new Chester County state park. Some locals don’t want it.
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
By Jason Nark Dec. 18, 2023
"Most assumed things wouldn’t change when George Strawbridge Jr., a Campbell’s Soup scion, historian, and renowned horse breeder sold the vast parcels of hills, farmland, and meadows to the nonprofit Conservation Fund for just under $32 million. The nonprofit then deeded the property to DCNR as a preserve. Strawbridge, who splits his time between Chester County and Florida, told the Inquirer he was equally surprised by the news and urged opponents not to compromise. “It’s outrageous,” he said from Florida.
The Conservation Fund declined to comment. In 2020, when the land transfers were finalized, a DCNR park manager told the Inquirer that as “part of a preserve,” the land “will be more restricted than a typical state park.”
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“They’re going back on their word,” Strawbridge said."
Neighbors are fighting a proposed campsite on Landenberg’s Big Elk Creek State Park
WHYY
By Zoë Read Dec. 8, 2023
“We’re happy to have people come and visit,” Consorto said. “We’re just trying to protect the environment and use it in such a way that it’s low impact.”
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State park officials plan to meet with resident and township officials in January to answer questions.
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From Tranquility to Chaos
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
Editorial Dec. 6, 2023
"For nearly four decades, the once named Big Elk Creek Preserve – just like the White Clay Creek Preserve just north of it – has been managed by the Friends of the White Clay Creek with the delicacy of a jeweler cutting diamonds, and its trail systems are traversed by residents as if on a pilgrimage of silence and respect for the whispering language of nature. Now, a slice of that silence is on the verge of becoming extinct."
Stakeholders, residents oppose DCNR’s plans for Big Elk Creek State Park
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
By Richard Gaw Nov. 29, 2023
"There is a generous swath of pristine land in southern Chester County that now sits on the precipice of significant change. Over the past three weeks, legions of those opposed to any new imprint on its definition and disturbance of its largely quiet earth have galvanized in an effort to hold back the big ideas of a big agency."
Rep. Lawrence Urges DCNR to Abandon Major Development Plans for Big Elk Creek State Park
MY CHESCO
By Maryann Pugh Nov. 16, 2023
"The park, located in Elk and Franklin townships, was initially acquired as an addition to the White Clay Creek Preserve. The understanding was that the property would be managed as part of the preserve – a semi-wilderness area with limited, low-impact use. As of November 16, 2023, DCNR’s website still lists the property as part of the preserve."
Pa. budget chips away at $1.4B backlog for parks, forests
SPOTLIGHT PA
By Marley Parish Sep. 29, 2023
“While officials celebrated the infusion as a “tremendous down payment” toward enhancing the experience at Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks and 20 forests, the amount represents a fraction of the estimated $1.4 billion needed to fully address a backlog.”
Conservation Milestone:
978 Acres in Chester County
MT. CUBA CENTER
Press Release Mar. 20, 2020
“As pressure from development, climate change, and other threats pose unprecedented risks for biodiversity, one of the most important things we can do to support flora and fauna is to conserve open space and the habitats it comprises."
Land deal grows Pennsylvania preserve to 3,000 acres
PENNLIVE
By Marcus Schneck Mar. 10, 2020
“The main attraction is the low impact recreational component itself. The quietness that a non-developed park brings has
benefits for those wishing to explore nature without the development typically associated with a day-use or overnight
park.”
Decade-Long Effort to Conserve One of the Largest Blocks of Open Space in Mid-Atlantic Completed
THE CONSERVATION FUND
Press Release Mar. 3, 2020
“Large tracts of open space like this are extremely rare and valuable, especially in such a highly developed and populated area... The result is one of the largest blocks of open space in our region and an opportunity to maintain a bucolic landscape that is quickly vanishing.”
$1.5 million in funding secured for open space preserve in Southern Chester County
THE MERCURY
Dec 5, 2018
"Christmas came early this year for open space in Chester County, as state Senator Andy Dinniman helped secure key state funding for a conservation project that will ultimately lead to the creation of one of the largest contiguous areas of preserved land between Washington, D.C. and New York City."
