The Green Lane Park is truly one of the jewels of Montgomery County.  It was the result of the joining of two popular area recreation spots in 1998 – the Upper Perkiomen Valley and Green Lane Reservoir parks.

1939 map showing the location of the original 425 acres purchased for the location of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Park.

            The Upper Perkiomen Valley Park started as a 425-acre gleam in the eyes of Montgomery County Commissioners Frederick Peters, James Potter, and Upper Perkiomen's own Foster C. Hillegass.  In 1937 philanthropist George Lorimer donated 80 acres in Abington Township to the county for a park.  That apparently was the spark that lit the idea for a county parks system because two years later, the commissioners formulated a park plan for Montgomery County. 

            In 1939 the county acquired the land in Upper Frederick and Marlborough

Swimming in the Deep Creek Lake at the park was banned in the 1991 due to the high level of bacteria found in the  water.  Throughout that decade, only sporadic beach open- ings would allow bathers into the water.

Townships, and Green Lane borough that would be the Upper Perkiomen Valley Park for many years.  The first park superintendent was Otto Quinque.  It was a name that would serve the park through the end of the century.  Otto Sr. held the position from 1939 until his retirement in 1970, at which time Otto Jr. stepped in to guide the park until his retirement in 2000. Over 60 years of dedicated park service by father and son.

            The park was located at a point where the Perkiomen and Deep Creeks came together.  Long before there was a park, there was the old iron truss bridge spanning the Perkiomen near the site.  Built in 1903, the Snyder Road span underwent a major facelift in 1987 but is no longer open to vehicular traffic.

            About 100 job-hungry, temporary workers built the park in the waning years of the Great Depression.  During the first 40 years of the park's existence, additional acreage was added to bring the size of the park to over 560 acres.  In the 1950s the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (PSWC) built the Green Lane Dam and reservoir just above the park. Concern for water quality and safety confined recreation activities to restricted fishing on the PSWC property until 1983. 

            That's when another group of Montgomery County Commissioners made the 

Maranatha Park cabins once sat along a path near what is now Green Lane Park's Blue Trail, across from the Marlborough Elementary School.  In 1988 a joint agree- ment to purchase the property was made between the Upper Perkiomen School District and the Montgomery County Commissioners.

largest single purchase of open space in the county's history.  Commissioners A. Russel Parkhouse, Paul Bartle, and Rita Banning authorized the payment of $1.35 million for 1,052 acres of land surrounding the Green Lane reservoir.  They also obtained easement rights to another 1,253 acres for recreational purposes.

In 1983, 84, and 85 the Upper Perkiomen Valley Park received a 100 percent rating from the Pa. Department of Environmental Resources.  That rating was based on the overall operation of the park including water purity, cleanliness, refuse and sewage disposal, and restroom facilities.

            With the Upper Perkiomen Valley Park located downstream, the new Green Lane Reservoir Park was christened on the former PSWC land.

            In 1988, a joint agreement to purchase Maranatha Park was made between the Upper Perkiomen School District and the Montgomery County Commissioners.  Maranatha Park was a Bible camp, then a Christian school, and after the school moved the camp cottages became private residences.  The district wanted a section of the parcel to build a new elementary school, and the county was looking to add property to the Green Lane Reservoir Park.  The partnership cost each of them $400,000.  About 24 acres went to the Park, and 21 acres to the school district. 

            The county facility became a year-round mecca for folks who wanted to enjoy the many outdoor activities the park offered.   Sadly, the 1990s also saw the closing of one of the most popular attractions.  Swimming was banned in Deep Creek Lake in 1991 due to the high level of bacteria found in the water.  Throughout that decade, only sporadic beach openings would allow bathers into the water.  But there is still plenty to do with interesting and educational nature programs, miles of trails to travel, and so much more.