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THE COUNTY’S OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION NETWORK
1740s Colonial era also located in Whitemarsh, and Mather
Mill (3.3 acres), a restored gristmill located along the
Wissahickon Creek, located one block from Hope Lodge.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission owns two hunting
preserves (505 acres) in Montgomery County, both located
in Limerick Township. These state game lands are open to
hunting during specified seasons.
Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Sites
Montgomery County owns or manages more than 6,000
acres of permanently preserved open space. Most of this
acreage is associated with large county parks and historic
sites, with additional land located along the Schuylkill River
Greenway. As an operating philosophy, the Montgomery
County Parks and Heritage Services Division manages parks
for a variety of outdoor recreation uses but does not provide
athletic facilities.
Central Perkiomen Valley Park
(464 acres) is a greenway
park system along the Perkiomen Creek containing the
Perkiomen Trail and picnic areas. Most of this land is
managed as natural open space.
Green Lane Park
(3,062 acres) provides for different
types of water based recreation such as boating and
fishing, centered around 814-acre Green Lane Reservoir,
Deep Creek Lake and Knight Lake. As the largest county
park, the Green Lane Park also offers a variety of outdoor
and recreation experiences including hiking, horseback
riding, mountain bike riding, picnicking, outdoor concerts,
and bird watching.
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
(249 acres),
the former residence of famed naturalist John Audubon,
provides a historic setting and a natural area operated jointly
with the Audubon Society. The county and Audubon
Society are working to develop a new visitors center and
education facility at this site.
Lock 60 at the Schuylkill Canal Park
(64 acres)
provides fishing access to the Schuylkill River and canal,
hiking trails, a public boat launch, and a five-mile water
loop trail. In addition to its outdoor beauty, the site
includes the historic 2.5 mile canal, restored Lock 60 and
the locktender’s house.
Lorimer Park
(230 acres) straddles the Pennypack Creek
and was established due to the bequest from the late
George Horace Lorimer (longtime editor-in-chief of
The
Saturday Evening Post
). The park provides picnic
facilities and an extensive trail system, including the
Pennypack Trail.
Lower Perkiomen Valley Park
(90 acres) contains
picnic areas and portions of the Perkiomen Trail along the
Perkiomen Creek in Oaks. It also contains large mowed
field areas that can be used for a variety of activities and
group events.
Norristown Farm Park
(690 acres) combines
agricultural land with recreation areas providing trails,
picnic grounds, and a concert amphitheater. This
property is owned by the state, but is managed entirely by
the county as a park facility.
Pennypack Mills
(181 acres) contains a historic estate
with a Colonial Revival mansion and barn used as a
museum. The property contains farmland and adjoins
portions of the Central Perkiomen Valley Park and
lands owned by the Perkiomen Watershed
Conservancy.
Peter Wentz Farmstead
(106 acres) is an 18th century
Pennsylvania German farm that served as headquarters
for General George Washington in October 1777. The
site hosts various historic reenactment events and is
visited by various people, including school groups.
Boy Scout troop hiking at Valley Forge National
Historical Park.
Group picnic at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park.
Children enjoying the cool water in Pottstown’s
Memorial Park.
