{"id":1346,"date":"2018-05-08T17:10:30","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T17:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/?p=1346"},"modified":"2020-05-07T21:12:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T21:12:00","slug":"penn-township-sustainability-park-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/2018\/05\/08\/penn-township-sustainability-park-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Penn Township Sustainability Park Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kreider farms and Penn Township\u2019s <\/span>Northwestern Lancaster County Authority come together to help protect the environment and educate the public about the impacts they make.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Miriam Gamache<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo by Miriam Gamache<\/span><\/p>\n

The Water Treatment Plant\u2019s Sustainability Park in Penn Township is a project that works hard to help protect the environment and teach the community about the importance of helping the earth. The Sustainability <\/span>park is a part of the effort of township officials in Northwestern Lancaster County Authority (NWLCA) and Kreider farms. The four-acre park was purchased by NWLCA from Kreider farms in 2011 for $140,000. After a lot of work, the land was turned into a scenic park that surrounds the state-of-the-art treatment facility and opened to the public on May 3, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

The park is open from dawn to dusk and includes a 1\/4-mile loop walking trail that takes you through meadows, alongside a maturing wooded riparian buffer, and several rain gardens. The trail has a great atmosphere for nature lovers, exercise seekers, and families who want a fun outdoor, educational experience. The route has seven interpretive stations with educational signs that detail the various features and \u201cTake-Home Tips.\u201d The informational plaques to educate visitors, especially school children, about the “green” practices in front of them. They explain the numerous ways the environment is being protected at the site. There also little tidbits on how people can take home these practices and use them in their own backyards. “Our focus is much broader than just completing a construction project,” said Dave Kratzer Jr., township manager. “It’s about making a lasting impact.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Miriam Gamache<\/span><\/p>\n

The land has access to a high-volume water well that has been transformed into the \u00a0NWLCA water treatment facility that provides safe drinking water to the community. The well has the capacity to provide water to Doe Run Elementary school as well as 650 more customers. It is a highly productive water source and is run through the water treatment plant. The site also manages storm water runoff into their aquifer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ron Kreider, president and CEO of Kreider Farms, said the company is \u201chappy that a former portion of our farm could be used as a valuable source of drinking water as well as a beautiful park where visitors can experience nature and learn about simple strategies for improving the environment.”\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Photo by Miriam Gamache<\/span><\/p>\n

Other parts of the park\/treatment plant that help protect our environment<\/span><\/p>\n