Worcester Township Agrees to Purchase New Open Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Worcester Township, Pennsylvania) – The Worcester Township Board of Supervisors is
pleased to announce the purchase of ten acres of pristine Open Space at the intersection of
Griffith Road, and Valley Forge Road, adjacent to Heyser Field and the Worcester Community
Hall in Fairview Village. The motion to enter into an Agreement of Sale with the Griffith Family
was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors at their October 18th meeting, for a sum
of $595,000.

Board Chair Rick DeLello shared, “The Board and I are overjoyed to have reached this
agreement with the Griffith family to preserve this property, which has only changed hands a
few times since it was owned by William Penn. Now, we will begin the exciting process of
working with the community to determine the future use of the beautiful property, ideally located
near Community Hall.”

“We are thrilled to have this important property along the Valley Forge Road corridor protected
from development. This is farmland with a great deal of history”, said Will Griffith, representing
the Griffith family. The property was originally part of the 1727 Henry Rittenhouse farmstead
that spanned both sides of what is now Griffith Road. Henry was among the earliest settlers in
Worcester and was one of the twenty-two landowners that petitioned for the creation of
Worcester Township in 1733.

Will added, “our family has been an active steward of this land for more than 80 years and to
know that it is now preserved forever is a great comfort. It will be here for all to enjoy”.
The Township Planning Commission is currently meeting with community stakeholders to
discuss the current and future use and need for open space throughout the Township. This
acquisition follows the recent purchase of the Historic Dutchie Church in September, and the
purchase of 3335 Fisher Road, a forty-acre farm purchased by the Board of Supervisors last
year. This acquisition represents the latest in Worcester Township’s “300 by 300” Open Space
Preservation Program.

Residents are encouraged to join the discussions with the Planning Commission each fourth
Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM, Community Hall, 1031 S. Valley Forge Road, Norristown, PA
19403.

Media Contact:
Sean Halbom, Township Manager
Worcester Township
(610) 584-1410
shalbom@worcestertwp.com
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