18 the Bartasek property , will provide enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreational activities to the citizens of the Commonwealth through the conservation of open natural green space in the highly developed region of southeastern Pennsylvania ,” said State Park Director John Hallas . “ Our partnership with Natural Lands and the US Fish and Wildlife Service assists state parks in conserving important parcels . Through these partnerships , we are able to stretch acquisition dollars , and , ultimately , conserve more land .”
CHESTER COUNTY , PA
4 Warwick Woods Campground 82 acres Warwick Township
Key Partners : Chester County Preservation Partnership Program ; PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ( DCNR ); RJM Foundation ; Warwick Township ; the Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation
The former owners of the Warwick Woods Campground contacted Natural Lands when they decided it was time to sell the property , hoping it could be preserved as open space . Natural Lands purchased the 82-acre property as an addition to its Crow ’ s Nest Preserve .
The campground had more than 200 structures , including an office , in-ground swimming pool , storage buildings , clubhouse , sewer facilities , and a pavilion . In addition , an access drive used by the neighboring natural stone quarrier Polycor ran through the property with no formal , recorded right-of-way easement . Natural Lands and Polycor agreed to a “ land swap ”: the quarry acquired 15 acres that included the access drive and , in exchange , Natural Lands took ownership of 15 wooded acres in another corner of the property . Additionally , Polycor very generously removed all the man-made structures .
The Warwick Woods property offers scenic views — part of Chester County ’ s charm — along Trythall Road and also from the Horse-shoe Trail that runs along the property for about 3,600 feet . The Horse-shoe Trail is an 84-year-old , 140-mile-long hiking trail that connects Valley Forge National Historical Park to the Appalachian Trail northeast of Harrisburg . It is designated as a National Recreation Trail .
Crow ’ s Nest Preserve and the 82-acre addition are part of the Hopewell Big Woods , a vast , unbroken forest that
Warwick Woods Campground