SDC partnered with the Lancaster Conservancy and multiple stakeholders to detail the common needs of the committee regarding access to a prominent Conservancy parcel, the Fox Hollow Nature Preserve. The 63—acre Fox Hollow Nature Preserve which is part of the multi—parcel 1,627± acre permanently protected forested natural lands and meadows that comprise the Lancaster Conservancy’s Lancaster River Hills Conservation Area ( LRHCA). The Conservation Area is replete with open fields, wooded slopes, and diverse habitats that host an array of rare, threatened, and endangered native plant and animal species and contains several headwaters and first-order streams that flow directly into the Susquehanna River.

The work outlined by the Lancaster Conservancy was divided into two main sections: Stakeholder Engagement and Concept Design. SDC conducted three work sessions involving discussions, surveys, and reviews to gather community input and develop plans reflecting stakeholders’ desires. Regarding the Concept Design requirements, SDC outlined various schematic site plans and provided conceptual renderings aiming to illustrate the proposed improvements within the study area. The final result was a concept plan for trail and visitor access to the Fox Hollow Nature Preserve, and a multi-page report utilized to apply for state grants to fund the future design and construction of the project.