Pike County. Lacawac Sanctuary gains land for nature preserve

Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation Field Station and Environmental Education Center have partnered with Mark and Courtney Peterson to protect and permanently preserve some of their land in Lackawaxen Township, Pike County. The conserved parcel of land will become the Mark and Courtney Peterson Nature Preserve.

Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation has acquired the 87 acres of land in Pike County for a nature preserve. The Preserve is situated near the Lackawaxen River and is located along the eastern bank of the Little Blooming Grove Creek.

“This parcel is critical to protect and sustain water quality, wildlife habitats and aquatic resources, in Pike County,” Craig Lukatch, President of Lacawac Sanctuary said. “I cannot overstate the importance of what the Peterson’s have done by donating this land to Lacawac Sanctuary. Not only have they preserved a piece of their legacy, but they have also preserved a piece of our natural legacy.”

“Large, wooded parcels of privately owned land are rare,” said Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr. Esq, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Lacawac. “Lacawac is grateful and fortunate to be charged with safeguarding this land in perpetuity.”

The Mark and Courtney Peterson Nature Preserve will safeguard wildlife habitat, provide environmental research and education opportunities, and protect the waters of Pennsylvania. The preserve is not open to the public.

Lacawac Sanctuary is a nonprofit association founded in 1966 for the purpose of protecting a gift of the original Connell Park lands by Arthur and Isabel Watres and facilitating environmental education and research. Located on Lake Wallenpaupack, the Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation plays an important role in the preservation of Lake Lacawac which is one of the southernmost glacial lakes in the hemisphere and has been preserved in pristine condition free from development and encroachment. For more information, log onto www.lacawac.org.