The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week awarded a $1.25 million grant in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, to protect the Kurylo property – an 82-acre field and forest – from development.

"The protection of this property for open space is important on its own, but is even more significant because of the landscape that it is in," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said at a media event where the grant was announced. "The Schuylkill Highlands initiative is a DCNR program working with external partners on land conservation, locally driven planning, and community economic revitalization efforts that are tied to the protection of our natural resources and cultural assets.

"Among the goals in the Schuylkill Highlands are to protect 50 percent of the remaining undeveloped land, and to provide more opportunities to connect residents and visitors to the outdoors. This project helps us meet those goals," Secretary DiBerardinis said.

Pennsylvania's investment is a Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant from the Keystone Fund, a DCNR fund generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax. Other supporters of the acquisition include Montgomery County, $1.14 million; $403,000 from Limerick Township; $10,000 from PECO; and a landowner contribution of $250,000.

The acquisition of the Kurylo property is a part of conservation partnership and strategic investments in the landscape known as the Schuylkill Highlands, which is an area that includes 139 municipalities in portions of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh and Montgomery counties.

NewsClip: Open Space Project Succeeds in Preserving Kurylo Farm

7/25/2008