Big Elk Creek State Park Plan Discussion Set For Residents

CHESTER COUNTY —Franklin and Elk townships invite the community to a town meeting to discuss plans to upgrade Big Elk Creek State Park on Strickersville Road in southern Chester County.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 in the Avon Grove Charter School, 1769 New London Road, Landenberg. The 1800-acre part is located 10 miles northwest of Newark, Dela.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau prepared a plan to provide outdoor recreation and outdoor classrooms.

A 10-question online survey of what the community would like to see at the park was conducted from May to September. The department received 1160 responses.

The survey results showed that residents strongly support a relaxed atmosphere with the restoration of water quality, forests, and aquatic life.

The results also indicated that 70 percent supported camping and less than 30 percent sought full amenities.

There was a strong interest in nature programs and guided interpretation.

A total of 64 percent of the survey respondents said they would like to see camping there and nine percent said they would not like camping. A total of 24 percent would like to see cabins with electric service and 31 percent would like pets.

In September 2022, then-Gov. Wolf selected Big Elk Creek as one of three parks in a $45 million project to provide upgrades to parks.

The property contains 3.5 miles of Big Elk Creek, a tributary of the Elk River and the Chesapeake Bay, and more than 690 different plant species.

The park also contains 2.1 miles of the Mason-Dixon line along the Pennsylvania/Maryland state border, Elk Township's Spring Lawn Trail, and adjoins the 5,300-acre Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area in Maryland.

Opposition

The group, “Save Big Elk Creek" has formed to oppose development plans for the park. There are 642 members listed on the Facebook site.
The land was owned by George Strawbridge Jr., a descendant of the Dorrance family of Campbell Soup.

State Rep. John Lawrence, a Republican representing southeastern Chester County, has a website with information about the property available here.