SALISBURY TWP., Pa. — There aren’t many forests in the Lehigh Valley with three-people-trees — those with trunks so thick it takes three people stretched fingertip to fingertip to reach around it, Christopher Kocher said Wednesday morning.
“This is one of them,” said Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy. “These mature forests of oak and tulip poplar provide a haven for nature, and these water filtering forests serve as a headwater for three streams that trickle down from these mountains, supporting clean water throughout the region.
“It doubles as an outdoor classroom, a unique learning space and a literal natural environment for exploring careers in science and conservation. It celebrates the intersection of nature and art as visitors are encouraged to notice nature-inspired design choices throughout the property and look forward to some very inspired collaborations with the art community.”
Kocher, along with a slew of other environmental advocates and community stakeholders, on Wednesday cut the ribbon on the conservancy's newest public preserve, Black River Sanctuary. Covering 187 acres in Salisbury and Upper Saucon townships, the sanctuary has seven different trails, covering 3 miles, and is the conservancy’s ninth nature preserve in the Lehigh Valley.
The ribbon has been cut — Black River Sanctuary is open! pic.twitter.com/OeODrgl1pD
— Molly Bilinski, artisanal sentence crafter (@MollyBilinski) October 23, 2024
“In these times of warehouse proliferation, which is sort of the bane of so many people in the Lehigh Valley's existence, it's nice to be able to say that we also have amazing natural resources, amazing places for outdoor recreation,” said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley. “ .. And the idea of 187 acres — that sounds great to me — forever preserved.”
‘Green infrastructure’
Nestled between two of the Lehigh Valley’s population centers, Allentown and Bethlehem, the preserve provides an oasis of opportunity for all to explore and exercise in nature, officials said.
The sanctuary will provide convenient access, connecting people of all ages with the outdoors, said Lissette Santana, president of the PPL Foundation, one of Wildlands' partners.
Their support for the sanctuary “is a reflection of the responsibility we have to protect the environment and to conserve natural habitats and native species,” she said.
“Take, for example, the power lines running through the sanctuary – pretty hard to miss,” Santana said. “We are teaming up with the Wildlands to ensure that we support the biodiversity of the land on which these lines run using native plants and pollinator friendly practices.
“By planting native grasses and wildflowers, we reduce mowing costs and mowing related emissions, we prevent soil erosion and create a habitat for pollinators. So it's a win-win-win, and this area is going to serve as a living research project, allowing us to share the lessons learned here throughout our operations.”
Over the last year, corporate and community groups logged nearly 900 volunteer hours to get the sanctuary ready for the public. Work included trail development, invasive species removal and planting native species, among other tasks.
In addition to PPL, volunteers included groups from Air Products, Boy Scouts, QVC and Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley.
“I want to thank all of our partners, all of our volunteers, all of our visionary supporters, our board, our staff, philanthropic partners who've invested their energy and passion into this beloved Black River Sanctuary,” Kocher said.
“Through your collective work and support, this property will forever be part of the green infrastructure of our community and be available for people and nature for generations to come."
