The Homestead Village Environmental Action Resources (EAR) committee is a group of residents passionate about the environment and making a difference in our community. In 2023, the committee applied for, and received a grant through the Senior Living Sustainable Campuses Initiative, sponsored by the Kentfields Foundation and carried out by LandStudies of Lititz.
The initiative provides Homestead Village with a long-term planning tool to:
- Develop more diverse wildlife habitat through intentional gardens of local plants and pollinators
- Reduce long-term maintenance costs of mowed grass areas and landscaping by restoring natural areas
- Reduce stormwater runoff
- Provide education and support for administrative staff, maintenance staff, and resident groups
Over the past three years, the EAR committee has sponsored and organized numerous programs and events to raise awareness of how residents can take action to protect our natural surroundings.
Most recently, the committee welcomed Emily Landis of the Steinman Foundation, who shared updates on an exciting local environmental effort: the Blue-Green Corridor Project along the Little Conestoga Creek—right next to our community.
The Blue-Green Corridor Project
The Little Conestoga Creek flows just east of Homestead Village, passing under Marietta Avenue. Over the past year, many residents have noticed significant changes along the creek—trees removed, large-scale excavation, and reshaping of the land. These are all part of the Blue-Green Corridor Project, an $18 million initiative by the Steinman Foundation and Little Conestoga Creek Foundation to restore 1.7 miles of the impaired waterway.
The project’s goals are to:
- Improve water quality by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels
- Create healthier ecosystems and boost biodiversity
- Stabilize stream banks to reduce erosion
- Restore natural floodplains and wetland areas
In addition to environmental benefits, a new 3.3-mile ADA-accessible trail will connect Marietta Avenue, Noel Dorwart Park, Franklin & Marshall College, and Park City Center. The trail will link parks, shopping, and essential services, providing recreational space for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers.
Project Phases Near Homestead Village
Three main restoration areas are being developed near the Historic Conestoga House Mansion on Marietta Avenue, less than a mile from the Homestead Village campus:
- North of Marietta Avenue – Simple floodplain restoration, similar to the work done along the Barrcrest property.
- Erosive Swale Restoration – Reshaping a large, erosive swale into a river-delta-like confluence with the Little Conestoga Creek, creating extensive riparian habitat.
- River Drive Area – Regrading a vacant lot upslope to restore another section of floodplain.
Restoration Work in Action
Emily Landis explained that one surprising feature—large tree stumps placed in the creek—are intentional. These “woody structures” break up water flow and create micro-habitats for fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects. The stumps were recovered from trees removed during excavation and sediment removal.
This work addresses “legacy sediment,” a common problem in Lancaster County streams. In the 1700s–1900s, farmers and mill owners built hundreds of small dams to power grain mills and other operations. Sediment built up behind these dams, raising floodplain levels by several feet. Over time, the sediment-filled floodplains lost their ability to absorb and filter stormwater. As steep, eroded banks collapsed, large amounts of sediment flowed into waterways, degrading habitat and water quality.
A similar restoration took place in 2017 along Brubaker Run in the Lime Spring area. There, 35,000 cubic yards of sediment were removed, steep banks were graded to stable slopes, and 8.4 acres of new wetlands were created—reducing sediment entering the stream by an estimated 250 tons per year. The Blue-Green Corridor Project is applying these same successful techniques to the Little Conestoga Creek.
The work is designed to enhance both the environmental health of the creek and the beauty of the surrounding landscape for generations to come.
Learn More
Residents can follow project progress and learn more about the Blue-Green Corridor at https://lccbgc.org. The EAR committee will continue to share updates and offer opportunities for residents to engage with environmental stewardship projects in and around Homestead Village.
Together, we can preserve and protect the natural beauty of our own backyard.
Emily Landis, Educational Coordinator, Steinman Foundation, gives presentation about the Blue Green Connector, at a recent event at Homestead Village.
References:
- Contributions by Sandy Grotberg, EAR Committee at Homestead Village
- “Down by the Creek” by Ben Webber, Originally published in STROLL School Lane Hills Magazine, February 2025 issue. Used with permission.
- https://lccbgc.org
- LNP Article
- Blue Green Connector Info Slide