After more than a decade of negotiations, Pennsylvania has completed the acquisition of more than 1,700 acres of land in southern Chester County to expand the White Clay Creek Preserve, writes Catalina Jaramillo for WHYY.

This expansion will create the largest state park near Philadelphia and also connects to other parks in the neighboring two states. It is now one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest undeveloped open areas, with nearly 8,000 acres available for recreation.

The expansion project was coordinated by The Conservation Fund and financed by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County, and Mt. Cuba Center.

This lastest portion of land was acquired last week for $16.2 million from George Strawbridge Jr., an educator, philanthropist, and Campbell Soup heir and former board member. Eleven years ago, the same public-private group purchased 735 acres.

The park now includes a section of Big Elk Creek and 2.1 miles of the Mason-Dixon Line. It also includes around 190 acres of flood plains, 600 acres of woodlands, and 100 acres of native grass meadows. Meanwhile, the largest portion – 800 acres – is farmland.

Read more about White Clay Creek Preserve at WHYY here.

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