Part of the Santos property, adjacent to the river and Milford Township municipal complex, purchased by the county

MILFORD - The Pike County Commissioners announced that they have closed on the purchase of almost 90 acres of property along Route 6/209, just north of Milford.

“The project could not have been accomplished without the many partnerships and the resident and municipal support for the acquisition,” said Commissioner Richard Caridi.

The project’s immediate partners included the County Commissioners and the Santos Family as well as the trust for Public Land which negotiated the transaction and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which handled the state funding for the project and the Pike County Scenic Rural Character Preservation Program Board which recommended allocation of county preservation funds.

Funding for the acquisition came from the State’s Growing Greener 2 funding allocated for counties across the state, from the Pike County Scenic Rural Character Preservation Program, and a small portion from the Commissioners’ budget. The final cost of the property is listed as $1,364,416,000. The SRCP Grant award was $531,120 and PA DCNR funds were $700,000. Final grant amounts from both funding agencies are yet to be determined as it is based on final eligible costs for each.

With the completion of the acquisition, the Commissioners will move forward with a Master Plan for recreation and open space development. Access will be limited this summer and fall due to an agreement the former landowner on harvesting of the agricultural products. Any resident input on suggested use should be provided in writing to the Commissioners’ office before the end of 2009.

The Commissioners also noted that the closing on the 708 acre Polatnick parcel on Cummins Hill in Westfall Township. The County purchased the Conservation Easement on the parcel and the acreage was then turned over to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Forestry. More information on public access to both parcels will be forthcoming.