Montgomery County, PA

NORRISTOWN — Upper Moreland Township went to settlement this month on the first piece of property purchased under the municipal portion of the County’s new $150 million Green Fields/Green Towns program.
The 8.37-acre Ramsey Property on Pioneer Road is a mostly wooded tract that has been maintained in its natural state. There are two intermittent streams that cross the property.
The County paid 80 percent ($600,000) purchase price of $750,000. Upper Moreland paid the balance.
This property was acquired on an emergency basis even before the township completed its new open space plan as required under the program. The Montgomery County Open Space Board agreed to the emergency purchase because there was pressure to sell the property as part of an estate settlement and it had already been identified as a priority in the township’s existing open space plan.
This property is a green oasis in the midst of extensive suburban residential development, and is already used informally by neighborhood residents. The Township plans to install walking trails throughout the property, and maintain the natural setting.
For additional information, call Sandy DeSipio, Open Space Program Administrator, Montgomery County Planning Commission, 610-278-3757 or sdesipio@mail.montcopa.org.