Opportunities to preserve Pike County’s rural character

HAWLEY, PA — Keep Pike Green is not anti-development. It is a coalition of conservationists, business people, builders, landowners, local officials and community residents who are committed to preserving Pike’s high quality of life through good planning and active conservation.

Keep Pike Green will sponsor a lecture and discussion led by Peter Pinchot on Tuesday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the PPL Lake Wallenpaupack Environmental Education Center on Route 6. Pinchot will suggest methods that will help preserve Pike County’s water quality, forestlands and rural character in spite of the rapid growth in population.

Pike County has been Pennsylvania’s fastest growing county for over two decades, but the natural resources including its rivers, lakes, forests, wildlife and scenic views are still in remarkably good condition. The county population may double or even triple in the next two or three decades and unless innovative planning strategies are adopted quickly, continued development may undermine much of what defines this region. Pike’s small-town rural character is a large part of what defines its quality of life and it is the foundation for the thriving tourism economy.

Pinchot will focus the discussion on:

• The impact that rapid growth can have on Pike’s natural resources.

• Opportunities to create a dramatic alternative to sprawl in Pike County.

• Strategies that other rapidly growing communities have adopted to protect their rural character.

• Actions public officials and citizens can take to help conserve our rural communities during the next two decades.

Now is the time to protect Pike’s rural heritage for future generations. For more information call Sue Currier at the Delaware Highlands Conservancy or Krista Gromalski at 570/409-9999.