Vast park in Chesco hinges on land deal

A $31 million land deal is in the works that could turn one of the largest privately owned properties in Chester County into a public playground.

Stretching for two miles along the Maryland border, it encompasses 1,718 acres, and was assembled during the last half-century by descendants of the founder of Campbell Soup, the late George Strawbridge Sr. and his son, George Strawbridge Jr.

If the deal is successful, the land stretching across parts of Franklin, Elk and New London Townships will be purchased with county, state and private funds.

"Those of us who live in the township have been hoping to preserve it, but it was too big for us to do it ourselves," said Phil Geoghegan, chairman of the Franklin Township Open Space Committee. "We are overjoyed."

George Strawbridge Jr., 70, a banker and breeder of race horses who also holds a doctorate in Latin American history and politics, could not be reached for comment, according to an assistant. In 2002, Forbes estimated that his net worth was $550 million.

The purchase is being spearheaded by the Conservation Fund, a land-preservation organization based in Arlington, Va., which raises funds to save land and water resources from development. Since its founding in 1985, the fund has protected more than six million acres.

Vanessa Vaughan, a spokeswoman, declined to comment, citing the sensitivity of negotiations. The fund is attempting to assemble the entire purchase price from county, state and private sources.

It is not known how much has been raised, but Chester County officials have approved contributing $3 million toward what they said was the $31 million needed.

Chris Novak, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said that agency was reviewing a grant application from the Conservation Fund for $2 million to help finance the project.

"The property is important for protection because of its proximity to Fair Hill," she said. "It would retain a large block of contiguous land." Surveys show the area contains more than 690 plant species, 15 of which are endangered, rare, or threatened, she said.

Geoghegan cautioned the deal was not completed.

"This is not a closed deal by any stretch of the imagination," Geoghegan said, "but there is no question that if it does go through, it will make an enormous difference around here."

Chester County officials noted that across the state line in Cecil County, Md., is a 5,633-acre preserve called Fair Hill. It is owned by the state of Maryland and includes the now-famous Fair Hill stables where Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro trained.

If the two tracts are combined, it would create what they called one of the largest public open spaces in the mid-Atlantic region.

"It is a beautiful piece of property," said Nan Latimer, an equestrian, neighbor of the Strawbridge tract, and a frequent rider through Fair Hill. "It is just outstanding."

Threading through the property is the Big Elk Creek, fed by numerous smaller streams. She said the land was a mix of open fields, woodlands, and water - "everything a horseback rider or hiker would crave."

On the Strawbridge land, officials hope to provide the same kind of outdoor recreation as at Fair Hill - horseback riding, fishing, camping, mountain biking, birding, hiking, and environmental education.

The Strawbridges started assembling the acreage at least as far back as 1956, according to land records, when 262 acres were purchased along Strickersville Road in Franklin Township.

George Strawbridge Jr. accumulated other tracts in his name into the 1990s.

He is the grandson of the founder of Campbell Soup, John T. Dorrance, and is distantly related to the family that founded the Strawbridge department store chain.

Geoghegan said land on either side of the states' border was assembled in the early 1900s by William duPont Jr., of the chemical company fortune, who farmed it and foxhunted across the rolling hills.

Other big tracts of land in rapidly developing Chester County have been preserved in recent decades by carving them up into large parcels and then putting conservation easements to prevent development.

But those lands remain private property and are not available for public recreation.

"Thank God for the Strawbridges," said Latimer. "They are conservation-minded, and they are trying to keep it open. We're hoping this goes through."