Description of Worcester's Protected Lands
Revised Last: Monday, June 15, 2009
This map shows the lands in the township that are currently protected, in some form, from development. However, this does not mean that they can never be developed. Some parcels are protected in more permanent ways than others. Each color on the map designates a different form of protection. The legend below gives more detail on each parcel or group of protected lands. Note: This is not official and reflects the interpretation of the preparer.
OWNERSHIP
ACRES
DESCRIPTION
Federally-Owned Land:
This land is owned by the federal government and is not restrcted from sale of development by this government.
F1. North Penn U.S. Army Reserve 16.9 The Army acquired this site by condemnation in 1954 to construct a Nike missile base as part of the country's Cold War defenses. In 1975, the property was converted to an Army Reserve base. In 2005, Congress authorized the closure of this base. Worcester Township is participating in planning for the reuse of the property.
State-Owned Land:
This land cannot be sold or transferred except by act of the state legislature.
S1. Evansburg State Park
143.59

These parcels on the western edge of the township were condemned by the Commonwealth in the early 1970s, originally for use as a reservoir and recreational lake. When that plan was defeated, the land was designated as a state park. Most of Evansburg Park is in Lower Providence and Skippack Townships, with a small portion in Worcester and Towamencin.
County-Owned Land:
This is currently one of the county’s historic sites, but the county is not prevented from selling or developing it in the future.
C1. Peter Wentz Farmstead
82

In 1969, Montgomery County purchased this working farm from descendants of the Schultz family to turn it into a public historic site. This farmstead was originally several hundred acres in size and boasted both a sawmill and a grist mill. The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, served as headquarters for General George Washington during the fall of 1777.
C2. Rothenberger Farm 19 Montgomery County has agreed to purchase this farm, originally part of the Peter Wentz Farmstead property, to expand the Farmstead and preserve its rural setting.
Township-Owned Land:
This land is owned by township governments and is not restricted from sale or development by these governments.
T1. Fischer’s Park
27

Towamencin Township now owns this park, which is located partly in Worcester Township and partly in Towamencin.
T2. Heebner Property
27
Worcester Township purchased additional acreage from the Heebner estate to buffer and extend Heebner Park.
T3. Lenhart Farm
14

Worcester purchased this small farm in 2002 to ensure that Heebner Park could be connected to the township-owned land along the Zacharias Creek and Hollow Road.
T4. Hollow Road
40

The township acquired this land during the development of Fawn Creek to preserve the area along the Zacharias Creek and Hollow Road for a future greenway.
T5. Nike Property
9

In 1975, the township acquired this small parcel from the U.S. government, which had established a Nike missile tracking radar station here during the Cold War.
T6. Mt. Kirk Park  
17.6
The land for Mt. Kirk Park was part of the Chadwick Place subdivision and was subsequently dedicated to the township by the developer. The township purchased the adjacent Dyka Property in 1995.
T7. Valley Greene
27

This land was acquired by Worcester Township at the time that Valley Greene was developed.

T8. Zacharias Creek

17.7

The township has purchased several parcels along the Zacharias Creek in order to protect the riparian corridor and provide for a future trail route connecting Heebner Park with Evansburg State Park.
T9. Heyser Field 7 In May 2009, the township purchased 7 acres of the Heyser property behind Community Hall in Fairview Village. The property is permanently protected by a conservation easement and is intended for use as a public park.
Permanently Preserved Land:
This land has been preserved as farm land or open space and is protected from development by conservation easements under state law. A portion of the purchase price for several of these properties was funded through the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program or the Montgomery County Open Space Program.
P1. Harris Farm
54

This crop farm was preserved in 2001 through the state’s Farmland Preservation Program.
P2. Markley Farm
38
This small farm was preserved in 2001 with the help of the state’s Farmland Preservation Program.
P3. Scarlett Farm
50

This horse farm was preserved by the state’s Farmland Preservation Program in 2004.
P4. Heebner Park
46

Worcester Township did not have a community park until 2000, when the township purchased acreage from the Heebner family with the help of a Montgomery County open space grant.
P5. Gerstemeier Farm
32

In 2002, this family farm was purchased by the owners of Merrymead Farm after the land had been preserved with the help of the Montgomery County Open Space Program.
P6. Markel Farm
62
This family farm was protected from development in 2001 through the Montgomery County Open Space Program.
P7. Walnut Creek Farm
88

In 2001, a large portion of Walnut Creek Farm was preserved as permanent open space when the Myers family voluntarily placed a conservation easement on this land. The easement is held by the Montgomery County Lands Trust.
P8. Schlotterer Property
17

Longtime township resident Peter Schlotterer donated a conservation easement on his 17-acre restored woodland to Montgomery County Lands Trust in 2004 to preserve it as open space.

P9. Zacharias Creek

22.4

The township has purchased several parcels along the Zacharias Creek in order to protect the riparian corridor and provide for a future trail route connecting Heebner Park with Evansburg State Park. The land is permanently protected by a conservation easement held by Montgomery County.
P10. Willow Creek Orchards 100 A large portion of the county's first and only certified organic produce farm was permanently preserved from development in 2007, thanks to the state / county Farmland Preservation Program, with help from Worcester Township.
P11. Schierenbeck Farm 46 This secluded horse farm, which includes several wooded tributaries of the Zacharias Creek, was preserved by the state / county Farmland Preservation Program in 2007, with assistance from Worcester Township.
P12. O. Smith Farm 23 This farm was preserved in 2007 with agricultural conversation easement through a parternship between Montgomery County and Worcester Township. The historic farmhousewas built by Peter Wentz, Sr., in 1744.
P13. D'Lauro Property 103 Frank D'Lauro provided in his will for the permanent preservation of his property. A 60-acre tract was donated to the Natural Lands Trust to be used as a nature preserve for the enjoyment of the public. Two other tracts remain in private ownership. All three parcels are protected by permanent conservation easements.
P14. Cold Spring Farm 14 This property, the core of the original farm, includes one of the earliest homes in Worcester as well as a stone pioneer structure. The landowner donated a conservation easement to The Conservancy of Montgomery County to protect the historic and natural resources on the site.
Homeowner Association land:
Under some development plans, a portion of the original parcel was required to be set aside as open space for the use of the development’s residents or township residents. This open space is protected by a restriction against further development which is included on the deed or the development plan.
Schools:
Methacton School District owns 12 acres in Center Point for the Worcester Elementary School and 95 acres west of Fairview Village for Methacton High School.
Churches:
Worcester has 11 churches, some of which own several parcels that make up their church property. Zoning ordinances require a church to have at least 25 acres, but many of Worcester’s churches were established before the zoning code was passed, so they may have less than the required acreage. Altogether, the churches in Worcester own 173 acres. These acres are not protected from development if a church decides to sell its land to a developer.
PECO Lines (outlined).
PECO Energy Co. owns almost 180 acres of land in Worcester for its transmission lines. Many township residents currently lease portions of this land for farming or pasture. In the future, a township or county multi-use trail may occupy a narrow corridor along this linear route.