Linking Five Nature Preserves with One Public Trail

by Gail Farmer, Wisshickon Trails Executive Director

December 11, 2025

by Gail Farmer, Wissahickon Trails Executive Director

Wissahickon Trails, together with public and private partners, has completed the final link in the nine-mile trail system connecting five nature preserves across Whitpain and Whitemarsh townships. The “5 Preserves, 1 Trail” initiative required the acquisition of land, trail easements and trail construction and enhancement projects. 

Since 2018, we and our  partners have preserved 51 additional acres of open space to support this effort. We have acquired two trail easements, built new trails and invested in enhancements to improve user experience, such as an equestrian bridge and stepping-stone crossings across Prophecy Creek. The open space and trail investments for this initiative were made possible with $1.7 million in public support from Whitpain Township, PECO, Montgomery County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and $2.5 million in private donations from our supporters.  

The  “5 Preserves, 1 Trail” initiative is now complete. A newly established trail easement through Willow Lake Farm, a private property in Whitemarsh Township, means that a trail visitor will be able to walk between Armentrout Preserve, Camp Woods, Briar Hill Preserve (which includes the Hughes Family and Cheston Family preserves), Willow Lake Preserve and Whitpain Township’s Prophecy Creek Park. In total, this connects 436 acres of land and nine miles of trails. 

The land for the last stretch of trail needed to complete the connection was provided by Ellen Lea. The funds to support its installation were donated by PECO and a private donation in memory of Phil and Barbara Albright. Construction on the final connector has now been completed.

“PECO is proud to support the connection of Wissahickon Trails and greenways, which will provide greater access for individuals to enjoy this natural landscape,” says Suzanne Ryan, PECO Regional External Affairs Manager.. “This work is a great example of PECO’s commitment to powering a cleaner, brighter future for Greater Philadelphia and a beautiful reflection of our shared vision for the region.” 

Willow Lake Farm is a great example of sharing private land for public conservation. In 1993, Jane O’Neill donated conservation easements on 108 acres of wooded areas and pastures of her landmark farm to 

Wissahickon Trails. Then, in 2002, through her generosity and that of her children, Jake Lea, 

Ellen Lea, Sydney Lea and Jane Lea, the land was permanently preserved and acquired by Wissahickon Trails, which created the Willow Lake Preserve we know today. The private residence and horse farm — known as Willow Lake Farm — is still in use.  

“It’s really important to us that we keep the trails at Willow Lake Preserve open for people to enjoy, because once open space is gone, it’s gone forever,” said Ellen, who owns the private residence at Willow Lake Farm. “When my mother originally partnered with Wissahickon Trails in 1993 to allow public access to what would become the 108-acre Willow Lake Preserve, the idea was that equestrians and walkers could both be here and enjoy the land. It’s a piece of heaven on earth.”

Ellen’s family has supported public access to their property for decades – first through conservation easements, then land donation, and most recently, by granting a trail easement through their private residence to connect the initiative.

“Open space preservation is a priority to Whitemarsh Township because it helps preserve local habitat for wildlife and promotes biodiversity,” said Fran McCusker, vice chair of the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors. “Furthermore, it helps save taxpayer dollars because it curbs development, thereby saving impacts on  infrastructure and services. Our partnership with Wissahickon Trails is very important to us because the collaboration helps us to pool resources to help achieve common goals in a broader target area.”