Photo credit: Anteia Consorto
When horsemen and their neighbors come together on local issues their input can make a difference. Public outcry, complete with petitions, packed public meetings and protest lawn signs lining almost every street in the area have saved the Big Elk Creek State Park from construction of a campground – at least for the time being.
The rolling fields and woodlands now known as the Big Elk Creek Park are adjacent to and a part of the White Clay Creek Preserve. The 1,700-acre tract is located in Elk and Franklin townships, Pennsylvania and borders Maryland’s Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area.
Over 700 acres of the Big Elk Creek were purchased by the State of Pennsylvania in 2010 from property once owned by thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder George W. Strawbridge, Jr. In 2020, the state purchased an additional 978 acres.
Elk Township is a very rural section of Chester County, PA that is home to horsemen from many riding disciplines from fox hunting to pleasure riders. The addition of intense camping to the remote Park property would bring light pollution, noise, and the intrusion of vehicles to previously pristine land that is home to 15 known rare and endangered plant species.
The establishment of the Big Elk Creek Park seemed like a good way to ensure that this land would be permanently preserved. But in late 2023 the Department for Community and Natural Resources (DCNR) held a public meeting introducing the initial development and restoration ideas for the Park. The plan included family campgrounds with 30' x 30' cabins and standard, full-service and walk-in campsites, and parking spaces for RVs. DCNR’s name for the plan was “Great Gathering Sites.”
Those at the initial meeting were not allowed to ask questions but they went to their boards of supervisors with their concerns. They soon organized Save Big Elk Creek with an informative website followed by the yellow and green Save Big Elk Creek yard signs that rapidly erupted from lawns.
The perceived lack of transparency by DCNR was one major objection from residents. The public in general believed the land was a preserve for passive recreation of birding, hiking and riding, so the unexpected change to campsites drew outrage. The first petition opposing the development received nearly 1,400 signatures in just three weeks. The residents sought help from their state representatives and brought PA Rep. John Lawrence in on their side.
Another public meeting was held last fall, this time with the public allowed to voice their opinions – and they did – for now.
According to the Save Big Elk Creek website, at a January 10 Town Hall DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn stated “We are putting the camping plan aside for now.”
The plans for a visitor center and restrooms are going forward. At this time, horseback riding is still permitted at Big Elk Creek.