Lamont McClure and the Division of Parks & Recreation announce that on December 10, 2021 Northampton County officially acquired and permanently conserved 110.08 acres in East Allen Township. This marks the 21^st County Park and Conservation Area in the Northampton County Park, Trail, and Open Space System. With this acquisition, the County Park system now totals 2,221 acres.

The Spengler Preserve includes mature woodland fencerows, rolling terrain, agricultural fields, rock out-cropments, springs, riparian areas, and an unnamed tributary stream in the Catasauqua Creek Watershed. Scenic views of the Lower Lehigh Valley including Bethlehem, Allentown, and the forested ridge of South Mountain (PA Highlands) are incredible.

“The acquisition of this property will help protect local water sources and wildlife habitat by remaining open and not covered in pavement,” says County Executive Lamont McClure. “Our Division of Parks and Recreation continues to manage stormwater naturally in the County’s park system, helping to reduce the impacts of floods, erosion, and sedimentation.”

“Multiple generations of the Spengler family were great stewards of the land, farmed the fields, and valued the mature woodland fencerows with some of the largest Sycamore and Red Oak Trees that I’ve seen in this area”, says Sherry Acevedo, Conservation Coordinator. “We are thankful for the Spengler’s commitment to land conservation for future generations.”

“This acquisition protects the past, present and future character of Northampton County and farming will continue to be a major component of the overall concept of this Park” commented Bryan Cope, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation.

The total purchase price of $2,690,000 is based on a fair market appraised value of $24,000 per acre to retain the rural character of the land and deter warehouse proliferation. This acquisition was made possible through the Northampton County Livable Landscapes Grant Program, which supports open space, environmentally sensitive land, and greenway goals. The Spengler family worked with the Conservation Coordinator to conserve this landscape as a nature preserve for future generations.