Planning Commission reports nearly 3,000 acres preserved in 2024; Marcellus Shale funds awarded for park improvements

The York County Planning Commission on March 19 presented its 2024 Open Space and Land Preservation annual report, reporting 2,993 acres preserved in 2024 and continued use of Act 13 Marcellus Shale legacy funds for park improvements.

Wade Dobrecht, director of the York County Planning Commission, said the program — in its fifth year since formalization — has averaged over 3,000 acres preserved annually across the last five years. "In 2024, we preserved 2,993 acres, and that couldn't be done without the work of our many partners," Dobrecht said.

Dobrecht and Anne Walco, senior planner, outlined partner contributions: the York County Agricultural Land Preservation Board preserved 1,445 acres across 14 working farms; the Farm and Natural Lands Trust preserved 938 acres across 13 properties; the county purchased 32 acres for a future park in Fairview Township; and the Lancaster Conservancy acquired a 40‑acre riverfront parcel in Hellam Township that preserves forest ridges and links to the Mason‑Dixon Trail.

Walco provided funding specifics tied to Marcellus Shale legacy funds (Act 13). Since the program began in 2020, the county has issued more than $1,900,000 in grant funding for land acquisition and planning, Walco said. For 2024 the program awarded $300,000 for the Lancaster Conservancy acquisition and $330,000 in improvement grants out of roughly $780,000 in requests. Walco noted a $40,000 per‑application limit for improvement grants and said the county did not require a local match for those awards, a design intended to distribute funds across municipalities and community groups.

Walco also summarized two planning projects funded for 2024: a Miller Park master site plan in Shrewsbury Township for a roughly 50‑acre parcel, and a comprehensive parks, recreation and open‑space planning effort for York Township. She said grant applications for the next cycle open July 1 and are due Sept. 30, with recommendations reviewed by the Land Protection Committee and final action by the commissioners typically in December.

Ending

Planners said the annual report and application materials are available at www.yorkopenspace.org. The commission encouraged municipalities and community groups to attend a grant workshop and coordinate with DCNR and local foundations to leverage funding.