Valley Forge: A Battle Site for Development
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Eagleville, PA – A new "army" is descending on Valley Forge. It's an army of local citizens, unhappy about plans to build a commercial development on the former encampment grounds of George Washington's Continental Army. The plans would include a museum, hotel, conference center and shopping complex, all on private land located within the Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Cinda Waldbuesser, program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, says a commercial development would be incompatible with the historical context of the site.
"It's land that is now historic meadows and woodland, which was an important part of the encampment of Gen. Washington and the Continental Army."
Backers of the project say it will boost park tourism and bring more money to the area. Waldbuesser agrees that a museum is a good idea for the park, and can still work, but contends that a larger-scale project would change the character of the site.
"We would love to see the museum returned to the location where it was originally proposed, which was near the current Welcome Center at Valley Forge, on land that already has been disturbed."
The Lower Providence Zoning Hearing Board cleared the way for the development, but is now reconsidering it on appeal.
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