MOVE TO PRESERVE
Berks Nature converting wetlands in Ontelaunee, Perry into nature preserve
Nearly 30 acres along Mohrsville Road that runs through Ontelaunee and Perry townships are being turned into a nature preserve that eventually will have public access.
This spring, fencing went up, holes were dug and saplings were planted wrapped in tubing known as tree shelters to protect them from being nibbled by wildlife.
The grassy field along the western side of Mohrsville Road adjoins the Shellhammer Dirt Track property just off Route 61.
It had served as a parking area for race competitors and fans since the track opened to the public as Shellhammers Speedway in 1975, according to Brenda Cordier, one of the current track owners.
At the end of the field is a wooded area that conceals remnants of the former Schuylkill River Canal. When passing the swampy area as the sun sets in the spring, the chorus of spring peepers engulfs motorists and passengers driving by, even if their windows are up.
Berks Nature thought it was time to give the public access to the land and eventually the Schuylkill River next to it.
“All of the properties we own, we try very hard to make examples of best land management practices,” said Berks Nature President Kim Murphy. “And I think we had felt for a long time that maybe was not the case at the Ontelaunee property.”
The organization secured a $12,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Schuylkill Highlands Landscape Initiative that they are putting toward the $25,000 project cost. The remainder is being covered by Berks Nature’s Tree Fund.
The project entails planting 185 native trees with the shelters and 80 native shrubs, installing 1,400 feet of fencing, bringing in 20 tons of boulders and bollards to define a parking area covered with stone, and creating and installing signage and interpretive stations for the Schuylkill River Canal, according to the grant application Murphy shared.
She said Berks Nature wants people to have a natural area for recreation and access the river, but that can’t be done just yet.
“I think that will be part of the master plan, but that has not been implemented obviously,” Murphy said. “We haven’t officially opened it to the public yet, so that’s possibly not going to happen until the fourth quarter of this year. There’s still some work to be done there.”
She said they hope to provide access for fishing. While there is no official plan to put in boat access, she didn’t rule it out for the future.
The Perry Township River Access for canoes and kayaks opened in September 1.3 miles north on Mohrsville Road.
History
According to county deed records, the Ontelaunee wetlands property was one of 15 parcels in five municipalities the Thun Investment Co. sold to the Wyomissing Foundation on July 20, 1972, for nearly $2.84 million.
In 1977, the Wyomissing Foundation sold the land in Ontelaunee and Perry townships to the Berks County Conservancy for $35,000. In 2015, the conservancy became Berks Nature.
Ralph Shellhammer and his son Ron built Shellhammers Speedway in
1956. It was used by the Berks Micro Midgets Association for a brief time, went unused for many years, then was severely damaged by Agnes flooding in June 1972.
According to the Cordier family, David D. Cordier Sr. and Richard Adams approached Shellhammer about rebuilding the track and ultimately leased the property from Ralph Shellhammer starting in 1975. They opened the 1/8-mile clay track to the public for go-kart racing.
David Cordier Sr. and his wife, Shirley, purchased the track in 1995 from Luella Shellhammer. In February 2020, Shirley Cordier transferred ownership of the track to her son, David Jr., and his wife, Brenda.
David Jr. and Brenda Cordier changed the name to Shellhammer Dirt Track in 2020 after dissolving the previous corporation.
Brenda Cordier said they were told in November that the lease agreement with Berks Nature was terminated. She said that agreement allowed the track to use the land as a parking area as long as they mowed the field. They did not have to pay fees.
“We asked if we could have maybe another year under their lease, that we could better prepare our situation and they would not do it,” Brenda Cordier said.
“We actually own a lot of land south of the speedway, going south on 61, but it’s all under wooded area,” she said. “So we want to do some clearing, but we kind of ran into a little bit of a road block with the township. We’re only allowed to clear 30% of the trees.”
Ontelaunee Supervisor Gary Hadden explained that if the Cordiers want to clear-cut the land, they would have to file a land development plan with the Berks County Conservation District.
“The designs, the permitting, has always been an expensive process for a developer, but it’s a necessity to make sure something is done correctly and whatever you’re doing does not disturb your neighbors or cause problems in the future,” Hadden said.
“It’s kind of silly, in my opinion,” Cordier said. “Berks Nature is planting trees. We’re taking trees down.
“So what we’re doing is we got rid of a lot of things, items that were not needed, old equipment and things like that and we created basically another pit area.”
That just left accommodating spectators. Brenda Cordier said they have some parking on the grounds and the used car dealership owner on Route 61 allows them to rent the extra spaces on the lot for Wednesdays, the track’s biggest night.
“So until we can get some of our land cleared, it’s very tight, but we’re making it work,” she said. “It hurt us a lot. It really did. But we are managing. Our business has not fallen off.”