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New Schuylkill River access along Mohrsville Road opens in Perry Township

A new way to enter the Schuylkill River now exists at the Perry Township River Access, which opened earlier this summer.

The area, which includes a gravel parking lot for 14-16 vehicles, with one paved handicapped spot, is owned and maintained by Perry Township. Kayaks, canoes and tubes can be walked down a paved ramp into water.

Engineering and construction fees for the site came to about $140,000 and were funded by the William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Schuylkill River Greenways, according to Miica Patterson, communications director for SRG.

Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle

The Pennsylvania Water Trails sign showing the new Perry Township River Access area is part of the Schuylkill River Greenway, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. (Susan E. Miers Smith — Reading Eagle)

Schuylkill River Greenways is a Pottstown-based nonprofit that operates a National Heritage Area along the Schuylkill River in five counties: Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. The area received national recognition in 2000 as a place where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine. The Schuylkill River watershed was designated a Pennsylvania Heritage Area by the DCNR in 1995.

“The township had the land available,” Patterson wrote in an email when asked why the site was chosen. “The land was purchased through a FEMA program for recreational purposes because it’s an area prone to flooding.”

She said the new area is about 4 miles down river from the Peter Yarnell Park water landing and the Five Locks boat launch, which reopened in May after being closed for 14 years. Perry Township River Access is about 8 miles north of the next access point, Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township.

Joseph H. Body, Perry Township engineer, said no grand opening ceremony is planned, and Patterson said the access point is not on SRG maps yet because signage only was installed this month.

Body said the township will be working on getting an official address for the access area. The township had purchased several small lots in 2007 and 2008 that included where the access is now located, according to county deed records.

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Source: Berkshire mont

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