The City of Lancaster’s first nature preserve and a world-class environmental center are coming to Sunnyside Peninsula! As part of the Our Future Lancaster comprehensive plan, 70-acres on the Sunnyside Peninsula in southeast Lancaster City were designated as a nature preserve, which means the land will be preserved as natural habitat for generations to come. A major focus of Our Future Lancaster was uplifting Lancaster’s connection to the Conestoga River, which flows around the Sunnyside Peninsula.

This project details the process for creating the master site plan for the nature preserve.

Nature Preserve

The new nature preserve will have recreational opportunities like hiking and kayaking, volunteer opportunities, and host new environmental programs and events. The preserve will give Lancaster City’s 60,000 residents a chance to connect with nature like never before. The preserve will potentially feature nature play areas for kids, a trail system, outdoor classrooms, and river access. Alongside recreation, the preserve will balance the needs of other species, and will work to enhance habitat for birds, fish, fox and other creatures that call it home.

Environmental Center

Partners for Environmental Stewardship (PES), a new nonprofit organization expanding access to nature and inspiring environmental action, is leading the creation of a one-of-a-kind environmental center on Sunnyside. The environmental center will be home to programming and staff for many of Lancaster’s leading environmental organizations including:

• Lancaster Conservancy
• Lancaster Clean Water Partners
• RegenAll
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Stroud Water Research Center
• Water Science Institute

The center will host nature-based educational programs for kids, workshops and trainings for adults, and display exhibits detailing Lancaster’s connection to our environment.