Environmental Advisory Commission

Featured Content

• Butterflies of North Park and the Sacony Trail
  Spring is here and sunny days bring out the butterflies.  If you want to learn more about the butterflies visiting North Park, the Sacony Trail, or your backyard in Kutztown, please visit our new butterfly webpages.
  

  

  

  

Recent Events

Spring 2025 Tree Planting at North Park

On April 22 and 23, 2025, approximately 40 Kutztown University students in the Environmental Biology class planted 82 native trees and shrubs along the Sacony Creek at North Park.  Thank you to all the students who participated!  Many of these trees and shrubs were planted on the east side of the creek where little restoration work has occurred.  The larger trees were tubed and staked to prevent wildlife and wind damage.  In addition, shrubs and smaller trees were enclosed with fencing to prevent wildlife damage.  Habitat restoration was needed in this area to improve the riparian buffer because recent flooding has led to extensive streambank erosion in the park. This project was funded in part through a grant from the County of Berks, Christian Y. Leinbach, Commissioner Chair, Michael S. Rivera, Commissioner Vice Chair, Dante Santoni Jr., Commissioner.

Fall 2024 Tree Planting at North Park

Thank you to 15 volunteers, including EAC members, Kutztown University students, and members of the Maiden Creek Watershed Association who planted 68 native trees and shrubs on November 2, 2024.  Trees were planted on a section of hillside just above the road and bathrooms at North Park.  The trees were also tubed and staked to prevent wildlife and wind damage.  Trees included three species of oaks, sweet birch, and tulip tree, whereas shrubs included blackhaw viburnum and witchhazel.  The restoration work was needed to replace an area of dead Ash trees and invasive Norway Maple trees that were removed by the borough in October 2024.  This project was funded in part through a grant from the County of Berks, Christian Y. Leinbach, Commissioner Chair, Michael S. Rivera, Commissioner Vice Chair, Dante Santoni Jr., Commissioner.

Tree Planting, April 24 & 25, 2024

On April 23 and 25, 2024, 45 students and two professors from the Environmental Biology class at Kutztown University planted trees and removed invasive shrubs at North Park.  The 60 native trees and shrubs planted will help restore the riparian buffer along the Sacony Creek. Riparian buffers are important for stabilizing the streambank, preventing pollutants from entering the stream, and supporting native wildlife. We thank the students for their hard work and The Giant Company for a grant to purchase the trees.

North Park Cleanup: April 20, 2024

On April 20, 2024, twenty volunteers from Kutztown University, Kutztown Area School District, and the Kutztown Environmental Advisory Commission cleaned up North Park. The group did a great job cleaning the stream and streambank of large trash items, including 14 tires! We appreciate their help maintaining water quality in the Sacony Creek and keeping the environment safe for wildlife.

Sacony Trail Cleanup: April 18, 2024

On April 18, 2024, the sixth-grade team of students and teachers at Kutztown Middle School cleaned up the Sacony Trail and the banks of the Sacony Creek. This day of service learning was a valuable opportunity for the students to connect with nature and to contribute to the well-being of their community. The group did a great job cleaning the stream bank and trail.  We thank them for their dedication to environmental conservation and community service.

Sacony Trail Cleanup: April 16, 2024

On April 16, 2024, scouts in Bear Den 4 of Kutztown Cub Scouts Pack 101 cleaned up trash (and a sink!) along the Sacony Trail. Thank you for keeping the trail clean!

Consumer Environmental Concerns

Problems with “forever chemicals” in the environment and in consumer products have been brought to light in recent news articles.  If you want to learn more about these chemicals and the human health risks associated with exposure to them, please follow the links below to read three summary articles written by the EAC.

• PFAS Health Impacts and Water Contamination (PDF)
• PFAS and Clothing (PDF)
• PFAS and Children (PDF)
• PFAS History and Future (PDF)
• Guide to Addressing PFAS in Drinking Water (PDF)

Keep the Sacony Trail Beautiful, Volunteer Today

We need volunteers to continue our work on the Sacony Trail. Please email us to learn more.

The Kutztown Environmental Advisory Commission (KEAC) is a group of community members, appointed by the elected officials, to advise them and other municipal officials about the protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources within the Borough of Kutztown. Much of this is done through educational community workshops, which are held throughout the year.