The 325 acres of woods and fields making up the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education will remain woods and fields well into the future.
Officials at the center reached an agreement with the Natural Lands Trust to trade millions of dollars in future development gains for an easement that will keep the lands intact.
Board member John Howard called the deal “satisfying” and stated, “There aren’t many things in life that one can do that really extend into the far future with assurance, but this is just about the best way I can think of. Land is so precious. And once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
The land is home to the Schuylkill Bike Trail, two streams—Smith’s Run and Meigs’ Run—deer, and the rare blue-winged warbler. Some of the trees are believed to be 250 years old.
The land is considered to be extremely valuable—some say worth $40 million—and the center has fought for most of its life to keep from selling off parcels of land.
The easement will keep the bulk of the property—260 acres—labeled as “highest protection status” which means the only activities permitted on the land are those meant for preservation. Thirty-four acres will be designated as “midlevel protection” which permits preservation and agriculture. The remaining 31 acres will house barns and other buildings.
The easement was a disappointment to Christina Kobland—who we told you about last week—who felt all 325 acres deserved the “highest protection status.”
