Solebury Township acquires 166-acre former quarry property through innovative partnership
Solebury Township is proud to announce the acquisition of the 166-acre former New Hope Crushed Stone & Lime Co. quarry located at 6970 Phillips Mill Road. This significant open space acquisition secures one of the largest undeveloped tracts in the Township, including a pristine 60-acre lake and over 3,000 linear feet of stream corridor along Primrose Creek.
Originally appraised at $3.66 million, the property was secured through a revised agreement of sale approved in May for $3.25 million. However, through a strategic partnership with Solebury School, the Township successfully negotiated a non-exclusive easement agreement allowing the school to access the property’s trails and water features for educational and recreational purposes. In return, the school contributed toward the acquisition, reducing the Township’s net cost to $1.6 million.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Board Chair Mark Baum Baicker. “Through creativity, persistence, and collaboration, we were able to reduce the financial impact on taxpayers while preserving an extraordinary environmental and community asset.”
The site’s potential extends beyond open space preservation. The property contains a warehouse-type structure suitable for repurposing as a Public Works storage facility, eliminating the need to construct a new building previously budgeted at $350,000. Additional buildings on site may serve as future office space or housing. The Township has also received inquiries from local fire and emergency service providers interested in using the lake for firefighting access and water rescue training.
Solebury Township took ownership of the property on May 22 and has already submitted a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for up to $1.2 million. The Township also intends to apply for additional grant funding in the upcoming DCNR grant round and the Highlands Conservation Act program, further reducing taxpayer contributions.
“This property will become a cornerstone of our park system for generations to come,” added Supervisor Kevin Morrissey, who has championed this acquisition for over 15 years. “Its recreational, environmental, and public safety benefits make this an outstanding investment in Solebury’s future.”
The Board of Supervisors has begun the process of securing and assessing the property for future recreational use. A long-term master plan will be developed with community input and will depend on a combination of grant funding and outside resources. Currently there is no public access to the property. Exact details of usage by Solebury School is to be determined.
Over the next few years the Township will start by finalizing remaining remediation measures then move to site evaluation and data gathering before preparing to commence a master planning process.
The Township would like to again remind the public that this property is the site of a formal industrial use and until it is secured and developed it could pose a hazard to trespassers and emergency responders, as such any individual caught trespassing will be prosecuted.
