Chester County Home to One of Pennsylvania’s Three New State Parks

Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced three new state parks for Pennsylvania at a cost of $45 million, including Big Elk Creek in southern Chester County, writes Frank Kummer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

“This is a big step forward for our state parks,” said Wolf. 

Big Elk Creek, at a cost of around $13 million, is a 1,700-acre tract of rolling farmland, meadows, and forests that is currently being used for hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting. Big Elk Creek runs through the park and is considered to be a high-quality stream. 

It took years to put together the land that makes up the new state park. The Conservation Fund acquired 735 acres from George Strawbridge Jr. In 2009. Strawbridge transferred ownership of the land to the DCNR, and the property soon became known as the Big Elk Creek section of White Clay Creek Preserve. 

Eleven years later, the Conservation Fund finalized the sale of the second parcel, a 978-acre tract, which was also deeded to the DCNR. 

The new park is home to more than 690 plant species, 15 of which are considered endangered or rare in the state. 

Read more about Big Elk Creek in the Philadelphia Inquirer.