The Alliance’s largest-ever tree planting is complete; Big Elk Creek State Park in Chester County, Pennsylvania now has 270 acres of new forest, including over 70,000 native tree and shrub seedlings! Big Elk Creek State Park is one of the newest State Parks in the Commonwealth, and the Alliance has been involved early on in the planning and coordination of the massive project. The planting area is spread over 31 patches, with the primary goal of buffering all perennial streams out to 300 feet, which is the maximum width considered to be a riparian forest. These acres will contribute to Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan goals, which is especially relevant given the site’s proximity to estuary waters; Big Elk Creek for which the park is named becomes the tidally influenced Elk River only 10 miles south of the planting locations.

The trees were planted by a combination of contractors, community volunteers, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, and the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps. Now that they have been installed, the hard work of tending to the trees and maintaining the site has begun; the trees will be closely monitored and cared for over the next several years, until the forest is fully established. The Alliance is also involved with other restoration work at Big Elk Creek State Park, including the establishment of a 45-acre wildflower meadow and ongoing invasive plant management.

An adult and a child plant a tree in a field

A father-daughter duo planting trees at Big Elk Creek State Park. The community volunteer tree planting component was the final stage of the Alliance’s 2024 “Treelay”, a 24-hour relay of volunteer tree plantings across the Watershed.

A shallow creek flowing during a sunny day

Big Elk Creek, after which the State Park is named. Big Elk Creek flows into Maryland, where roughly 10 miles south of the State Park it becomes the tidally influenced Elk River. There are no dams or obstructions along the entirety of Big Elk Creek, making it an important resource for migratory fish species. Big Elk Creek is designated as a High Quality stream by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

Two people securing a tree shelter onto a freshly-planted seedling

Cindy Adams-Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, installs a tree shelter with Fatim, a 2024 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps member.

Alliance staff and DCNR staff planting a seedling

PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams-Dunn and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Senior Forests Projects Manager Ryan Davis give a tree planting demonstration on the final day of planting at Big Elk Creek State Park.

A person smiling for a photo in a field, wearing a Treelay sweatshirt

A volunteer with Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association pauses during the Treelay to discuss his group’s involvement. They participated in the Treelay for the entire 24 hours, traveling to each site and collectively assisting with the planting of thousands of trees.

Big Elk Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources

The new Big Elk Creek State Park in Chester County PA spans around 1,700 acres of forests and fields.

A person petting a dog with tree tubes in the background

Ryan Davis, Senior Forests Projects Manager for the Alliance, pauses during the Treelay to greet four-legged volunteer, Charlie Brown.

A person smiling while planting a tree

Lexi Rose, DCNR Parks Manager, plants trees during the Treelay volunteer planting event.

A person picking up a stick out of a white bucket

Kate Fritz, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Chief Executive Officer, plants bareroot trees at Big Elk Creek State Park during the final stage of the 2024 Treelay event.

A group of Alliance staff members posing for a photo in front of the freshly-planted buffer.

The Alliance team pauses for a photo as the final trees of the Treelay were planted at Big Elk Creek State Park. From left to right, Drew Siglin, Ryan Davis, Kate Fritz, Mauricio Rosales, Emily Broich, Christine Danforth, Rebecca Lauver

Help us in our future efforts to make the Chesapeake Bay a cleaner, healthier place! Join us to plant trees, clean up your local waterways, maintain our garden installations, and much more.

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