NEWS

Wildlands Conservancy Celebrates Grand Opening of 187-acre Black River Sanctuary

Over 100 individuals gathered to watch scissors cut ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of the Lehigh Valley’s newest nature preserve, Black River Sanctuary, 187 acres situated in Salisbury and Saucon Townships.

“At a time when our region is losing our open space at an alarming rate of more than 2,000 acres a year, Black River Sanctuary stands protected forever because every day citizens decided it was an important, special place” says Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy. “It’s the counterweight we need to ensure everyone in the Lehigh Valley can experience nature nearby.”

Corporate and community groups, elected officials, and members of our giving community, including leadership supporter PPL Foundation, joined us to celebrate the grand opening with special remarks and a guided hiking tour of the preserve.

 “At PPL, we are creating the utilities of the future while ensuring we keep energy affordable and reliable for our customers. We’re also focused on supporting the development of vibrant and sustainable communities through partnerships with nonprofits throughout the communities we serve,” says Lissette Santana, president of the PPL Foundation. “The PPL Foundation is proud to partner with the Wildlands to create the Black River Sanctuary, which will serve as a living classroom for students throughout the Lehigh Valley, providing hands-on learning opportunities for students and engaging a new generation in conservation of the environment.”  

The 187-acre nature preserve is a convenient retreat for community members living in Allentown and Bethlehem. It offers 7 different trails, totaling more than 3 miles that are now open for hiking, biking, birding, or simply getting outdoors.

What does it take to open a nature preserve?
It takes people coming together for nature. Imagine this: Your support made it possible, and now you’re celebrating the grand opening. We hope you get out here!

Ahead of opening to the public, volunteers generously donated 900 hours of time and talent to lay the stones for trails, remove invasive species, and plant native trees, wildflowers, and shrubs. We’re grateful for the volunteer groups who helped make Black River Sanctuary community-ready, including Air Products, Boy Scouts, QVC, PPL, and Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley.

More than a nature preserve

Black River Sanctuary doubles, too, as an outdoor classroom and field-research destination for elementary through college students. Sixth graders from Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus are among those benefiting from the nature preserve’s unique learning environment.

In a full-circle moment, curriculum coordinator Johanna Roche with Seven Generations, joined by several students, celebrated the fruits of their labor.

“We are honored to partner with Wildlands Conservancy at Black River Sanctuary. The nature preserve is supporting our 6th-grade students with a dynamic, outdoor classroom experience focused on conservation career opportunities. Through hands-on activities, our students have engaged in technology-based data collection to help inventory bird species, as well as vegetation management to enhance biodiversity,” says Roche.

“This immersive program not only equips students with essential skills for future careers in conservation, but it also instills a deep appreciation for environmental stewardship. By connecting classroom learning with real-world applications, we are inspiring our students to envision themselves as future champions for sustainability”

Visionary supporters take in the view

Led by Wildlands Conservancy’s preserve manager Michael Hock, those attending the guided hike portion of the grand opening were treated to views overlooking the Allentown skyline and Lehigh Valley beyond by way of climbing the Horizon Trail, a special perspective of contrasting urban and natural landscapes.

For future generations, starting now

Our vision is a Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River watershed that contain expansive natural areas, connected green spaces, healthy waterways, and an enlightened community where people embrace conservation and sustainability.

This new nature preserve is a way for us to give back to our local communities for all they ways they make our mission and vision possible.

This includes YOU!

More about Black River Sanctuary

We also envision visitors enjoying this space as an intersection of nature and art, noticing nature-inspired design choices, like tree-shaped parking areas and seasonal spectrums of flowers and grasses along the powerline right-of-way corridor.

Deer, turkeys, and small mammals including porcupines and songbirds call Black River Sanctuary’s wooded forests home.

The canopy is made up of oaks, maples, and tulip trees, while the understory lines the trails with spicebush and ferns.

Acknowledging our Community of Support

Wildlands acknowledges the support of its giving community, especially the John A. and Margaret Post Foundation, Lehigh Valley Road Runners, PPL Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rotary Club of Allentown, TC Energy, and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, along with private donations, for making Black River Sanctuary a public nature preserve.

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