Energy company closes Lancaster County park

An energy company has abruptly closed 400 acres of land in Lancaster County that includes Holtwood Park and an access point to the popular Kelly’s Run trail.

With its deep ravine and waterfalls, the trail is one of the most popular places for people to go hiking in Lancaster County. 

Kate Gonick is with the Lancaster County Conservancy, which owns the Kelly’s Run Pinnacle Preserve. She said the conservancy did not get advanced notice about Talen Energy’s decision to close public access to Holtwood Park. But she says two other access points to the Kelly’s Run trail will remain open to the public.

“We’re going to be working on the trails and enhancing them, so it’s very clear how access it from Pinnacle,” she says. “We’re also going to provide new mapping for individuals.”

A spokesman for the Talen Energy declined to discuss the decision, but Gonick says after the conservancy reached out to the company Thursday, it said it was open to discussing options to protect Holtwood Park.