Council approves 99-year ground lease with Partners for Environmental Stewardship for Sunnyside environmental center

Lancaster City Council on Aug. 12 approved a resolution authorizing city officials to enter into a 99-year ground lease with Partners for Environmental Stewardship (PES) to develop an environmental center and nature preserve on the Sunnyside Peninsula.

Councilors said the project implements goals from the city’s 2023 comprehensive plan by expanding public access to the Conestoga River, creating environmental-education programming and restoring habitat on nearly 9 acres of city-owned land. PES will design and build the center; the city will retain ownership of the underlying land and maintain responsibilities for portions of the preserve.

Councilor Craig, who chairs Community Planning, said the action before council followed a conditional award to PES in January 2024 and a request-for-proposals process that began in November 2023. Under the terms discussed in committee and summarized to council, PES will be responsible for all project construction costs and program operations; the ground lease will formalize a long-term partnership and allow PES to seek…