Group hopes latest land preservation effort launches more interest
Photo by Shawn Hickey, The Nature Conservancy
Cove Mountain, on the Kittatiny Ridge.
(Harrisburg) — 353 acres that overlook the Susquehanna River will be preserved after a nonprofit paid for the land.
The Nature Conservancy paid $378,000 for the land in Perry County, on the Kittatiny Ridge.
It’s near Marysville, and the group says a developer once had it under contract, but that deal fell apart in 2006, and the nonprofit was able to get the money together to make a sale happen.
Josh Parrish with the Nature Conservancy says it’s a big win.
“You could speculate that down the road this would be potentially growing vinyl and turf grass versus trees and plants and animals and people walking around enjoying it,” says Parrish.
Parrish says migrating raptors use the Kittatiny Ridge on their trips, but the Conservancy will also create hiking trails, picnic areas, and outdoor classrooms.
He expects a grand opening later this year.
Parrish says while the Conservancy purchased the land, it’s also been working more with landowners to put space into trust so it can’t be developed.
The Ridge starts near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border in Franklin County, looping through Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.
“It gives us a kinda central point for landowners to come, learn about the Ridge, walk on the Ridge, and then get more involved on the Kittatiny Ridge conservation effort,” he adds.
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