DEVELOPMENT. NOT MANY PLACES LOOK LIKE THIS ON THE WEST SHORE ANYMORE MORE THAN 50 ACRES OF PEACE AND QUIET LAND LEFT TO GROW ON ITS OWN PERSONALLY. I’M GLAD THAT THE TOWNSHIP. NEED IT. JUST BENE O OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE VINCENT DE FILIPPO NATURE PRESERVE AND SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP IS THE WALKING SO WE THOUGHT WHY NOT WALK IT WITH VINCE DEFILIPPO. THAT’S ME. HE TOLD US HE GREW UP ON A FMAR AND LEARNED EARLY THE VALUE OF LAND. HE’S USED HIS POSITION FIRST AS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR. AND NOW IT’S CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVING OPEN SPACE ONCE LAND IS DEVELOPED. I KWNO THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMPLISTIC, BUT YOU CAN’T UNDEVEPLO THE PRESERVE THAT NOW BEARS HIS NAME WAS GIVEN TO THE TOWNSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY DEVELOPER WHO COULDN’T USE THE LAND SINCE IT’S IN A FLOODPLAIN IT USED TO BE PTAR OF A GOLF COURSE. I PLAYED IT A FEW TIMES AND I CAN REMEMBER ABOUT WHERE SOME OF THE HOLES USED TO BE PHILIPPA POINTED OUT A FEW TREES STILL HERE FROM THE COURSE, BUT MANY ARE NEW. THIS LOOKS LIKE A SYCAMORE TREE THIS PAST SPRING VOLUNTEERS PLANTED HUNDREDS OF NATIVE TREES. HONGPI TO NATURALLY IMPROVE THE WAY THE RAINWATER DRAINS INTO THE CONSEQUENT CREEK, WHICH BORD PRESERVE YOU WOULD THINK YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE LOOK AT IT. YOU DON’T SEE ANY HOUSES. YOU DON’T SEE ANY BUILDINGS. TO ME THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING AND AN AREA THAT IS SO DENSELY POPULATED. THERE’S A POPULATION HERE TOO THOUGH AN EVER-CHANGING ONE OF PLANTS BUGS AND BIRDS. THERE’S A LOT OF BIRDS THAT COME FLYING THROUGH HERE MIGRATORY BIRDS. SOME THAT YOU MAY ONLY GET A CHANCE TOEE S ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR AT THE BACK OF THE PRESERVE IS A SHIELDED OBSERVATION POINT NEAR A BALD EAGLES NEST DESIGNED TO LET YOU WATCH THE NEST AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND AT THE FRONT PLANS ARE DRAWN UP TO EXPAND THE PARKING LOT. AND AT A BOAT LAUNCH FOR CANOES AND KAYAKS. SO MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE NEXT DOOR. IT’S JUST NICE TO BE ABLE TO WALKND A LOOK AROUND. AND SEE NOTHING BUT OPEN SPACE. AND I THINK WE ALL NEED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME EXPLORING THE TDOUOORS AND SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP MAP OUR CAIRO WGAL NEWS 8 IN 2013, SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP VOTERS APPROVED A REFERENDUM ALLOWIN AG PORTION OF THEIR EARNED INCOME TAX TO GO TO WAR PRESERVING LAND. IT’S THE ONLY LOCAL
Explore Outdoors: Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County
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Updated: 9:40 AM EDT Sep 17, 2021
There is an oasis in the middle of development in Cumberland County.News 8's Matt Barcaro visited Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve in Silver Spring Township as part of our "Explore Outdoors" series.The preserve is more than 50 acres of peace and quiet – land left to grow on its own.One of the main features is the walking trail. So, Matt thought it was only fitting to walk it with the preserve's namesake: Vince DiFilippo.He said he grew up on a farm and learned early the value of land. He's used his position, first as a township supervisor, and now as Cumberland County commissioner, to advocate for preserving open space."Once land is developed, I know this sounds very simplistic, but you can't undevelop it," he said.The preserve that now bears DiFilippo's name was given to the township several years ago by a developer who couldn't use the land since it's in a flood plain. It used to be part of a golf course."I've played it a few times, and I can remember about where some of the holes used to be," DiFilippo said.Some trees are still from the course, but many are new. This past spring, volunteers planted hundreds of native trees. The goal is to naturally improve the way rainwater drains into the Conodoguinet Creek, which borders the preserve."You would think you're in the middle of nowhere. You don't see any houses. You don't see any buildings. To me, that's pretty amazing in an area that is so densely populated," DiFilippo said.The preserve is home to an ever-changing population of plants, insects and birds."There's a lot of birds that come flying through here, migratory birds, some that you may only get a chance to see once or twice a year," DiFilippo said.At the back of the preserve is a shielded observation point near a bald eagle nest designed to let visitors watch the nest at a safe distance.At the front, plans are drawn to expand the parking lot and add a boat launch for canoes and kayaks so more people can enjoy a little bit of nature next door."It's just nice to be able to walk and look around and see nothing but open space, and I think we all need that from time to time," DiFilippo said.
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP, Pa. — There is an oasis in the middle of development in Cumberland County.
News 8's Matt Barcaro visited Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve in Silver Spring Township as part of our "Explore Outdoors" series.
The preserve is more than 50 acres of peace and quiet – land left to grow on its own.
One of the main features is the walking trail. So, Matt thought it was only fitting to walk it with the preserve's namesake: Vince DiFilippo.
He said he grew up on a farm and learned early the value of land. He's used his position, first as a township supervisor, and now as Cumberland County commissioner, to advocate for preserving open space.
"Once land is developed, I know this sounds very simplistic, but you can't undevelop it," he said.
WGAL
WGAL’s Matt Barcaro and Vincent DiFilippo.
The preserve that now bears DiFilippo's name was given to the township several years ago by a developer who couldn't use the land since it's in a flood plain. It used to be part of a golf course.
"I've played it a few times, and I can remember about where some of the holes used to be," DiFilippo said.
Some trees are still from the course, but many are new. This past spring, volunteers planted hundreds of native trees. The goal is to naturally improve the way rainwater drains into the Conodoguinet Creek, which borders the preserve.
"You would think you're in the middle of nowhere. You don't see any houses. You don't see any buildings. To me, that's pretty amazing in an area that is so densely populated," DiFilippo said.
The preserve is home to an ever-changing population of plants, insects and birds.
"There's a lot of birds that come flying through here, migratory birds, some that you may only get a chance to see once or twice a year," DiFilippo said.
At the back of the preserve is a shielded observation point near a bald eagle nest designed to let visitors watch the nest at a safe distance.
At the front, plans are drawn to expand the parking lot and add a boat launch for canoes and kayaks so more people can enjoy a little bit of nature next door.
"It's just nice to be able to walk and look around and see nothing but open space, and I think we all need that from time to time," DiFilippo said.
