Meehan, Casey, Toomey Call for Recognition of Delco’s Woodlawn Trustees Property by National Park Service

Washington, DC – January 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Congressman Pat Meehan (PA-7) sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging him to establish a National Park System unit that includes the Woodlawn Trustees property, which is partially located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

“The property, a national treasure featuring important American heritage sites, is a resource that residents should continue to enjoy for generations to come,” wrote Senators Casey and Toomey and Congressman Meehan. “In addition, due to private support in excess of $20 million, the acquisition costs of the Woodlawn Trustees property are paid in full. Therefore, we urge you to support the establishment of a National Park System unit which includes the Woodlawn Trustees property by donation.”

The Woodlawn Trustees property, a 1,100 acres located in the Brandywine River Valley, currently serves as a wildlife preserve, urban park, and recreation space for the more than five million people who live within 25 miles of this property. Industrialist William Bancroft purchased the land in the 1900s with a vision to connect the Philadelphia and Wilmington metropolitan areas through shared public lands.

The full text of the letter to Secretary Salazar is below:

The Honorable Ken Salazar

Secretary

Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Salazar:

We write to express our support for the establishment of a National Park System unit that includes the Woodlawn Trustees property along the Brandywine River in both Delaware and in Pennsylvania, but that does not include any land which the landowner does not freely consent.

The Woodlawn Trustees property, a 1,100 acres located in the Brandywine River Valley, currently serves as wildlife preserve, urban park, and recreation space for the more than five million people who live within 25 miles of this property. Industrialist William Bancroft purchased the land in the 1900s with a vision to connect the Philadelphia and Wilmington metropolitan areas through shared public lands. A century later, the Woodlawn Trustees property continues to serve this goal.

The property, a national treasure featuring important American heritage sites, is a resource that residents should continue to enjoy for generations to come. Given its significance, numerous constituents in our state have weighed in regarding their support for the establishment of a National Park System unit that includes the Woodlawn Trustees property. In addition, due to private support in excess of $20 million, the acquisition costs of the Woodlawn Trustees property are paid in full. Therefore, we urge you to support the establishment of a National Park System unit which includes the Woodlawn Trustees property by donation.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we may be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.               Patrick J. Toomey                  Patrick Meehan

United States Senator           United States Senator           Member of Congress