Final Crebilly Farm Fundraising Effort
MEDIA, Pa., August 16, 2024 – Natural Lands announced today that it is launching the Save Crebilly Campaign—a final step in the organization’s multi-year fundraising effort to preserve the entirety of Crebilly Farm in Westtown Township, Chester County.
The campaign—which has a $2.5 million goal, dollar-for-dollar challenge, and October 31, 2024, deadline—targets communities within a 10-mile radius of Crebilly, which will benefit most from the protected and publicly accessible open space.
Crebilly Farm is a 308-acre ecologically, historically, and culturally significant landscape that has long been a priority for conservation. At one point, the property was under an agreement of sale with Toll Brothers to construct more than 300 houses. But, following years of community concern, the deal with the developers came to an end and the Robinson family, which has owned and occupied Crebilly Farm for multiple generations, opened a pathway and partnership to conservation.
In June, 2023, Natural Lands and partners celebrated an important milestone when one-third of the property was permanently protected through conservation easements.
The final step in preserving Crebilly Farm is Westtown Township’s purchase of the remaining 206 acres that will become a passive-use park with walking trails through the stunning landscape.
To date, more than $20 million has been committed, thanks to revenues from a newly enacted Westtown Township open space tax; county, state, and federal grants; and private donations. Additionally, Mt. Cuba Center and an anonymous donor have created a $2 million challenge that will match all final phase fundraising gifts dollar-for-dollar.
“Now is the time to come together—friend by friend, neighbor by neighbor, and gift by gift—to raise the final $2.5 million, unlock our generous $2 million challenge, and reach the goal of saving all of Crebilly Farm,” said Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands. “It’s a chance of a lifetime.”
Natural Lands has set up a web page to receive donations: www.natlands.org/crebillyfarm. The fundraising deadline is October 31, 2024.
According to Dick Pomerantz, who is a member of Westtown Township Board of Supervisors and Police Commissioner, as well as Chair, WEGO Police Commission, “The ultimate success of this final phase to Save Crebilly would be the culmination of what has been a truly extraordinary undertaking. The first step for which commenced with a singular mandate and hugely difficult challenge: ‘You have no choice …you must win the open space referendum.’ And that is what eventuated. In a landslide victory in the largest voter turnout ever in Westtown Township history.”
Pomerantz added, “Which would have been impossible without the profound commitment, conviction, and perspicacity of an amazing large cadre of volunteers, and an electorate with the courageous foresight to appreciate that Saving Crebilly’s magnificent open space today will benefit the many generations to come in the future.”
Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, Natural Lands—which is member supported—has preserved more than 135,000 acres, including 40+ nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres. Nearly five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all.
Please note: “Natural Lands” is the organization’s official operating name and should be used instead of its legal designation (Natural Lands Trust, Inc.).
Media Inquiries:
Kirsten Werner, Senior Director of Communications
610-353-5587 ext. 267
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