Valley Forge Park: $500K State Grant For Renovation of 1816 House

VALLEY FORGE, PA - Valley Forge Park Alliance was awarded a $500,000 state grant for the Maurice Stephens House project to convert the home into a new headquarters for the Valley Forge Park Alliance and a café.

“For years, the Valley Forge Park Alliance has provided excellent services to park visitors that have complimented official park programming, including bird walks, historical lectures and wellness workshops,” said State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, a Chester County Democrat.
“The Maurice Stephens House project will allow them to not only continue these valuable programs but also expand their impact on visitors by having their headquarters located right on the grounds of the park.”

The house is located on the Grand Parade, where George Washington’s Continental Army trained during the winter encampment in 1777-1778.

It has since become a three-mile walking trail in a meadow at Valley Forge Park along Route 23. It provides a natural habitat for birds and animals.

The funds will be used to either build an addition or pay for the design fees and site work for the property surrounding the building.

The new work would include rehabilitating an existing parking lot, installing sidewalks, electricity to the parking lot, signage and landscaping.

“Valley Forge brings in more than a million visitors every year and is a significant tourist and historic attraction in the region,” Shusterman said. “This project will be a wonderful addition to the park and will provide a place for visitors to take a break, before exploring more of the 3,500 acres.”
The grant was provided by the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is adminstered by the state office of budget.