​Master Planning for White Clay Creek Preserve

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of State Parks -- in partnership with the National Park Service and the Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve -- has begun a multi-year planning process to develop a new master site plan for the 2,000-acre original preserve. The former Big Elk Creek Section of the park has become a separate state park as of September 27, 2022; and a separate master planning process will begin for that new park in 2023.

This unique open space is located in a highly-developed part of the state with growing pressures for outdoor recreation.

The goal of this planning process is to balance recreational opportunities with conservation of the natural and cultural resources within the park, while also viewing the park lands in a regional context with adjacent Delaware and Maryland state parks and other nearby conserved properties.

Public Input Opportunities

An important first step in the planning process is the collection of all past and present information related to the properties, including:

• Ecological
• Past and present human uses
• Surrounding land uses
• Other factors that could have an impact on decisions made for the new plan

Local knowledge is extremely valuable for this step, and the public is invited to contribute information that might prove useful.

The next step is the development of a draft “Foundation Document” for public comment that is due to be completed in late 2022.

DCNR will then begin working with stakeholders and the interested public to develop a set of draft planning documents for the park, including changes in existing recreational facilities (such as trails and parking lots), and resource management prescriptions (for natural and cultural resources).

Any historical or other information you would like to contribute to this process or suggestions of additional resource people for the park to contact can be sent to:

White Clay Creek Preserve
405 Sharpless Road
Landenberg, PA 19350-0172
610-274-2900
whiteclaysp@pa.gov

Future updates about this planning process, along with draft documents for public review and comment, will be made available on this web page.