Worcester Protected Lands Map

F1

19

North Penn U.S. Army Reserve Center —  In 1954, the Army condemned land from three farms to build a Nike missile base as part of a ring of bases that surrounded Philadelphia. In 1975 the property was converted to an Army Reserve Center, which was closed in 2010. The property is slated to be turned over to Worcester Township under the Federal Lands to Parks Program but is awaiting final clearance on outstanding environmental issues. 

Unprotected. If Worcester Township does not accept the property under the Federal Lands to Parks Program, the Army can sell the land. The land is zoned AGR and could be developed for single-family homes.

S1

144

Evansburg State Park - In 1970, the Commonwealth condemned over 3000 acres of land along the Skippack Creek in Skippack, Lower Salford, Towamencin, Worcester, and Lower Providence Townships to create a reservoir and recreational lake. When that plan was defeated, the land was designated as a state park.

Somewhat protected. Land acquired under the Project 70 legislation can be sold or exchanged for other land only by action of the Pennsylvania legislature. The land is zoned AGR and could be developed for single-family homes.

S2

2

Center Point Training Center — This property was part of the radar command center for the Army’s Nike missile base located on Berks Road. In 1975, the Army transferred this small portion of the property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is being leased by Montgomery County for use as an adult day care for the disabled.

Unprotected. If the Commonwealth decides that it no longer needs the property for public purposes, it can sell or exchange it for other public property, or allow it to revert to the Army, which could transfer it for another public purpose or sell it. The property is zoned AGR and could be developed for one single-family home.

C1

86

Peter Wentz Farmstead — The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, served as headquarters for General George Washington during the fall of 1777 while planning the Battle of Germantown. In 1969, Montgomery County bought the farm for its historic and architectural value. It was opened to the public in 1976 as a county historic site. In 2007 the county purchased  an additional 19 acres to buffer the historic property from suburban development.

Unprotected. The county commissioners can decide to sell the property at any time. The land is zoned AGR and could be developed for single-family homes.

T1

28

Township Administration Building & Worcester Fire Department — In 1974, the township acquired 16 acres to build a municipal building and Fire Department. In 1990 12 acres were added.

Unprotected. The property could be sold if it were no longer needed by the township.  A portion of the land is zoned commercial and the rest is zoned AGR.

T2

46

Heebner Park — In 1996 the township purchased this land using county open space funding to develop Worcester’s first community park. 

Protected. The land was purchased with funding from the Montgomery County open space program and is protected by a conservation easement. It cannot be developed other than as a municipal park.

T3

14

Lenhart Farm — This farm was purchased by the township in 2002 to provide access to Hollow Road for the planned connection of the Zacharias Trail with Heebner Park.

Unprotected. The property is not restricted from sale or development, but once the trail is built, it is extremely unlikely that the trail portion would be sold.

T4

22

Zacharias Trail — When the Markel property was preserved in 2001, Worcester Township acquired land along the Zacharias Creek for a future trail connection between Evansburg State Park and Heebner Park. The first section of the Zacharias Trail was built in 2008. 

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

T5

55

Zacharias Trail — Beginning in 1986, Worcester Township acquired land along the Zacharias Creek for a future trail connection between Evansburg State Park and Heebner Park. The connection to Heebner Park is planned for 2014.

Unprotected. The property is not restricted from sale or development, but it is extremely unlikely that the portions with the trail would be sold or developed.

T6

23

Valley Greene Open Space -- In the late 1960s, the township acquired land along the Zacharias Creek when several large farms were developed as a residential subdivision. The land includes the Valley Greene wastewater treatment plant and a stormwater basin that serves the development. 

Somewhat protected. Although the property is not restricted from sale or development, much of the land is being used as a stormwater basin and wastewater treatment plant. In addition, the areas located in the floodplain are protected from development by Worcester’s floodplain ordinance. The remainder of the property, approximately 12 acres, could be sold by the township. It is zoned for residential development and could be developed as single-family homes.

T7

9

Nike Park — In 1975, the township acquired this property from the Army under the Federal Lands to Parks Program, which requires the township to use it for public recreational purposes and nothing else. 

Unprotected. Land acquired under the Federal Lands to Parks Program can be sold or used for non-recreational purposes if it is exchanged for other land, with the approval of the Department of the Interior. If that were to happen, the land is zoned AGR and could be developed as single-family homes.

T8

17

Mt. Kirk Park — Part of this park was acquired by the township when the Chadwick Place townhomes were developed. The township  purchased an adjacent parcel to allow for expansion of the park  facilities.

Unprotected. The land is not restricted from future sale or development, even though  portions of it are now developed as a public park.

T9

7

Heyser Field — The majority of this property (5 acres) was purchased with county open space funding and is required to be used as a public park.

Protected. Five acres of this property are permanently protected from development. The remaining 2 acres are not protected. 

T10

2

Worcester Township Community Hall, a.k.a. Fairview Assembly Hall

Unprotected. The township acquired this historic building in 1983 for a public meeting space. The property is not protected and could be sold by the township. It is zoned residential and could be developed for single-family homes.

T11

11

The Enclave Open Space — In 1999 the township acquired this property from the developer of Sunnybrook Estates as part of the land development process.

Probably protected. The ordinance under which The Enclave was developed requires a certain percentage of open space, which must be restricted from future subdivision or development. 

T12

11

Bethel Road Open Space — The township acquired this property in 2009 from the developer as part of the land development process. In 2012, a portion of this property was condemned by the Turnpike Commission for the construction of a new stormwater basin in connection with the widening of the Northeast Extension.

Probably protected. The ordinance under which Sunnybrook Estates was developed requires a certain percentage of open space, which must be  restricted from future subdivision or development. 

T13

9

Sunnybrook Park — In 2006 the township took dedication of this parcel from the developer of Sunny Brook Estates. It is now a township park.

Probably protected. The ordinance under which Sunnybrook Estates was developed requires a certain percentage of open space, which must be permanently restricted from future subdivision or development. This deed restriction is not as comprehensive as a conservation easement, but it should protect this land from future  residential development.

T14

25

Fischer’s Park — Towamencin Township owns this park, which is located partly in Worcester Township and partly in Towamencin.

Somewhat protected. The land is not restricted from future sale or development, even though  portions of it are now developed as a public park.

T15

48

Huber’s Woods — These two parcels were dedicated to Worcester Township as part of the final land development approval for the Preserve at Worcester. The densely wooded property is proposed to be left in its natural state, except for walking/bridle trails, which will be open to the public. The historic Bethel Parsonage located on this property was subdivided by the township and sold at auction. A façade easement requires the historic home to be rehabilitated to residential conditions.

Protected. The Conservation Subdivision ordinance under which the Preserve was approved requires this property to be permanently protected by a conservation easement.

P1

60.5

Markel Property — In 2001 Montgomery County Lands Trust completed the first conservation easement in Worcester on this property. The easement was funded by the Commonwealth (Department of Conservation & Natural Resources), Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. The land had been slated for residential development as single-family homes.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

P2

33

Gerstemeier Farm — This property was to be sold for development when a neighbor put up his own funds to secure an option that provided enough time for Montgomery Count and Worcester Township to coordinate the funding to buy it and preserve it with a conservation easement. The preserved land was then sold to an adjacent farmer and remains productive farmland.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

P3

17

Schlotterer Property — In 2004 the landowner donated a conservation easement on his property to protect a headwater stream area of the Zacharias Creek. Mr. Schlotterer painstakingly reforested the riparian corridor with native trees that he grew from seeds.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

P4

93

Walnut Grove Farm — A large portion of this farm has been preserved with a conservation easement donated by the Myers family.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

P5

14

Haines Property — The landowner donated a conservation easement on the property to preserve the core of what was once a large and productive farm. The easement also preserves the façade of the 1718 stone farmhouse on the property, one of the oldest surviving homes in the township.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Heritage Conservancy.

P6

104

D’Lauro Property — The landowner provided in his will for the permanent preservation of his property to protect the scenic viewshed along Valley Forge Road. A 60-acre tract was donated to the Natural Lands Trust to be used as a nature preserve. Two other tracts remain in private ownership. 

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

P7

81

Moran Property —  A conservation easement on this property was purchased with funding from the Commonwealth (Department of Conservation & Natural Resources), Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. When the county declined to provide the full amount of promised funding, the landowners agreed to a bargain sale to enable the easement to close.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County Lands Trust.

A1

59

Harris Farm — This was the first farm preserved in Worcester under the state/county Farmland Preservation Program.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township.

A2

39

Markley Farm — The preservation of this farm gave the family the necessary capital to pass the farm to the next generation without selling the land for development.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township.

A3

102

Willow Creek Orchard — This is Montgomery County’s only certified organic fruit and vegetable farm. It is now operated by Greener Partners. a local nonprofit  organization, as Longview Center for Agriculture. 

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. Worcester Township purchased a trail easement on a 20-foot-wide corridor along the perimeter of the property to insure the continuation of the Zacharias Trail across the township.

A4

47

Schierenbeck Farm — The elderly owner of this boarding stable learned of the Farmland Preservation Program in 2003 and was determined to preserve her beloved farm in her lifetime. She endured numerous delays and lived to see the agricultural preservation easement close in 2007.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. Worcester Township purchased a trail easement on a 20-foot-wide corridor along the perimeter of the property to insure the continuation of the Zacharias Trail across the township.

A5

16

McGrane Farm — This small boarding stable qualified for the Farmland Preservation Program because it is adjacent to another preserved farm. Large blocks of preserved farmland help insure the continuation of successful farming operations in the township.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. Worcester Township purchased a trail easement on a 20-foot-wide corridor along the perimeter of the property to insure the continuation of the Zacharias Trail across the township.

A6

19

Graham Farm — This farm has been in the same family for almost 100 years. Longtime township residents will remember stopping along Valley Forge Road in early summer to buy strawberries here. The family now grows pumpkins in one field, and a local farmer raises feed corn across the road. 

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township. Worcester Township purchased a trail easement on a 20-foot-wide corridor along the perimeter of the property to insure the continuation of the Zacharias Trail across the township.

A7

54

Gwyn Meadows Farm — The owners of this family-run boarding stable were determined to keep the farm in the family. They are such believers in the Farmland Preservation Program that they have preserved their farm in Chester County as well.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township.

A8

23

Smith Farm — For years, this farm, situated directly behind the Meadowood retirement community, was known for its unique black and white Belted Galloway cows, which resembled Oreo cookies. 

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township.

A9

37

Cucé Farm/Victoria Natural Farm — The owners of this land painstakingly recreated a farm that had been subdivided for development by buying up one parcel at a time. The farm includes two historic homes with barns and now produces specialty fruits, vegetables, and animal products.

Protected. The land is permanently protected by an agricultural conservation easement held by the Commonwealth, Montgomery County, and Worcester Township.

HAL

Homeowner Association Land — This land is required to be set aside as common open space by the ordinance under which the residential subdivision or commercial property was developed.

Probably protected. The properties may or may not be deed restricted from future development, depending on the provisions of the ordinance under which the subdivision was developed. Worcester’s Conservation Subdivision ordinance is the only one that requires homeowner association open space to be permanently protected with a conservation easement. Other homeowner association open space may be deed restricted from residential development.