It’s just been a few years that the Open Space Grant Program has been in existence in Carbon County, but already the budding success of it is obvious.

During a gathering of the Open Space Advisory Board of Carbon County, attended by numerous state and county officials, it was stated that Carbon County has spent $1.4 million so far on the program that generated nearly three times that amount — $3.4 million to be exact — in grant money.

Michael Sofranko, Carbon County commissioner, said the county’s share of the funding was wholly derived from parking fees charged to tourists.

“If it weren’t for those who visit giving back, you wouldn’t have the $1.4 million to put into the program,” Sofranko said.

Especially of note was that this year the Open Space Program resulted in a conservation easement for the permanent protection of 1,147 acres of land in Penn Forest Township, which is owned by the Lehighton Water Authority.

This acquisition is a water-quality priority because it supports the permanent protection of Pine Run and its tributaries, which are recognized as exceptional value streams and headwaters of the Lehigh River.

Anna Shigo, Carbon County open space coordinator, said the gathering, held at the Koch Wildoner Pavilion at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, was to celebrate the success of the Open Space Program in Carbon County. She gave a background of the program, noting that it was made possible because in November 2022, 83% of the voters in Carbon County approved the referendum that would allow for $10 million to go towards preserving forested areas, water resources and working farms.

Since the grant program first opened, “it has helped to preserve over 1,200 acres of open space,” Shigo said.

State Sen. David Argall said, “This county has so much to offer,” adding, “the open space is just so important to preserve.”

State Rep. Doyle Heffley termed the work of the advisory board “incredible.” He said when you think about Carbon County, you think about the mountains and the rivers which offer many recreation opportunities. “We want to encourage farmers who still have active farms to preserve them,” he said.

Dennis DeMara, an adviser of the Carbon County Open Space Advisory Board, said, “This is amazing to see the progress.”

“People know that Carbon County will change, and how it changes is important,” he said, adding that it is important to protect its natural resources.

“We’re trying to preserve the highest quantity of conservation lands and the family farms,” he said.

Fred Kemmerer Jr., chairman of the open space board, said of the water authority property, “The land we have just preserved is south of where my grandparents grew up.” He said he spent “countless hours” in this area because of its beauty. Of the vast natural resources in Carbon County, Kemmerer said, “I want to make sure my children and grandchildren enjoy them.”

Other speakers were Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, Marlyn Kissner of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, and Dan Kunkle, an adviser to the Carbon County Open Space Advisory Board and a member of the Wildlands Conservancy, which is in charge of open space acquisitions.