National Parks Group Remains Committed to Protecting Valley Forge’s Historic Landscape

Statement by NPCA Pennsylvania Senior Program Manager Cinda Waldbuesser

“It is surprising that the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce would choose to resort to unprofessional attacks against our nonprofit organization. As the leading voice for our national parks, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for the last 90 years has been committed to protecting and preserving our national parks, and we remain committed to protecting Valley Forge National Historical Park from ill-conceived development plans that would forever impair our national heritage.

“The National Parks Conservation Association remains very much opposed to disturbing the Lower Providence site because of its historical significance and the detrimental impacts the project will have on surrounding national parkland. Modern, impartial research shows the land on which the American Revolution Center (ARC) plans to build was critical to the encampment at Valley Forge. In addition, the development will impair park views, add noise, harm important wetlands and the water quality of the Schuylkill River, and confuse visitors.
 
“We have sought multiple times to engage ARC representatives in good-faith negotiations. Our attempts thus far have proved fruitless. We remain willing to engage in a dialogue where each party is willing to give fair consideration to all options in the context of the facts, which include the site’s historic character.

“The National Parks Conservation Association will continue to join with local residents and concerned citizens nationwide to do everything necessary to ensure Valley Forge is protected for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. A museum can be built anywhere, but there is only one Valley Forge.”

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