If you head north from the southern terminus of the Conewago Recreation Trail in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, you will find a 107-acre tract of land that borders the trail by the Conewago Creek with rolling farm fields and upland forest – a tract that was permanently protected by the Lancaster Conservancy in 2021. In honor of a local conservationist and long-time Conservancy supporter, this nature preserve has been renamed the Shaw Family Nature Preserve.
Elizabethtown resident Barry Shaw has supported farmland preservation, Elizabethtown College, Brethren Village, and many other ventures. His personal hobby of nature photography has also inspired his philanthropy. For over 15 years, Barry Shaw produced calendars for The Wenger Group and Elizabethtown College featuring his photographs of hawks, mergansers, geese, and other animals around Elizabethtown as well as animals from around the natural world Barry explored. This passion for capturing photos of wildlife led him to invest generously in the Conservancy’s work to protect important natural lands for future generations.
“In my earlier life, I stalked game animals with a rifle, but I learned that a camera is more fun because I can share my photos with friends and relive the joy nature provides me. I retired my rifle and now spend as much time as possible with my camera in hand patiently waiting for the perfect picture,” said Barry Shaw. “I grew up outside of Philadelphia, but I always sought to escape the urban environment and seek nature as inspiration. I love wild animals, and anything I can do to help protect the landscapes they need to thrive is important to me.”
Photo by Barry Shaw
Photo by Barry Shaw“We used to ride that trail all the way to Lawn, PA. It’s such an amazing resource and beautiful landscape. We believe some properties and landscapes are so special and important they should not be developed. The landscape along this trail was one of those that was important to our family to protect forever,” said Abby Lowry, Barry’s daughter.
The Shaw Family Nature Preserve was dedicated on November 20, 2023. Visitors can ride or hike along the Conewago Recreation Trail from the parking area at 2385 N. Market Street, Elizabethtown, and enjoy views of wetlands that are being restored by Mount Joy and Londonderry Townships as well as the farm fields and upland forests protected by the Shaw Family Nature Preserve.
Shaw family (from left to right Abby Lowry, Jennifer Finch, Barbara Shaw, and Barry Shaw) celebrates preserve dedicationAcquisition of the Shaw Family Nature Preserve began in 2011. For the next 10 years on and off the Conservancy continued conversations with the owner regarding sale of the property and with Londonderry and Mount Joy townships regarding their plans for an extensive joint Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) stream restoration project along the Conewago. As planning for the MS4 project continued, the Conservancy worked on raising the funds to acquire the land. The Conservancy was able to acquire the preserve in 2021 with funding from our Protect & Restore campaign, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the County of Lancaster, and a matching donation of land from Brookfield Renewable. After acquisition of the initial 155 acres, the Conservancy transferred the section north of the Conewago Trail adjacent to the Conewago Creek to Londonderry Township for the restoration project.
The Conewago Recreation Trail was acquired by Lancaster County in 1979 and later connected to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. It is famous for its scenic farmland and woodlands, and it is ideal for hiking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. This area has seen tremendous unsustainable development, both in housing and enormous warehouses, but the Shaw Family Nature Preserve protects a quintessential Lancaster County viewshed along the trail.
“Having the opportunity to honor Barry Shaw and the Shaw family for a lifetime of giving back to the community and for their support of conservation is incredibly meaningful,” said Fritz Schroeder, Lancaster Conservancy President and CEO. “This preserve is important and unique – the Conewago Trail ensures daily trail users will get to experience this landscape of stream, wetland, farmland, and upland forest, which is representative of the Mount Joy/Elizabethtown area and beloved Lancaster County landscapes in general. Now it is protected forever in honor of a wonderful conservationist.”
By partnering with local philanthropists like the Shaw family and public and private funding sources, the Lancaster Conservancy continues to protect important natural land. The Conservancy has permanently protected over 10,000 acres of land in Lancaster and York counties thanks to the support of partners and donors. Learn more about Conservancy nature preserves and how to support the Conservancy’s work at lancasterconservancy.org.
