Mount Gretna’s land is more than scenery — it is the foundation of our community’s character and wellbeing. Protecting that land means ensuring that the forests, open spaces, and historic settings we value today remain for future generations. One of the most effective tools for doing this is a conservation easement.

A conservation easement is permanent. It keeps land in private ownership while legally safeguarding its natural and scenic values, no matter who owns it in the future. That permanence offers both certainty and peace of mind: the choices we make today will endure long after us.

In recent years, an additional option for permanence has also become available through Pennsylvania’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), which can secure protection via a deed covenant when paired with an Acquisition & Development grant.

This section introduces the basics of conservation easements — what they are, how they work, and why they matter. It explains how easements balance private ownership with public benefit, the protections they provide, and the role they play in keeping Mount Gretna’s landscape intact for generations to come. The section also notes a newer permanence option now available through Pennsylvania’s C2P2 program, which complements rather than replaces the role of easements.