PA CHAPTER OF APA RECOGNIZES ZIMMERMAN CENTER FOR HERITAGE IN YORK COUNTY AS A 2025 GREAT PLACE IN PENNSYLVANIA

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA), through its Great Places in PA Program, annually designates Great Places. For 2025, five nominations achieved a Great Places designation: 4 Great Public Spaces and 1 Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve. This brings the number of Great Places designated since the Program’s inception in 2014 to 64. These Great Places are located in 35 of PA’s 67 counties. Great Places have a sustainable vision for the future and serve as a model for other communities. They are high-quality examples of successful planning efforts that build healthy and vibrant communities throughout the Commonwealth and promote the Chapter’s mission and vision.

APA-PA is proud to announce the designation of the Zimmerman Center for Heritage in Lower Windsor Township (York County) as a 2025 Great Public Space in Pennsylvania. Located on the banks of the Susquehanna River, the Zimmerman Center is a restored mid-18th-century Georgian stone architecture house that now serves as a vibrant hub for history, culture, and river exploration. Inside, visitors can explore the “Visions of the Susquehanna” art collection, which interprets the river’s cultural legacy, and learn about the colonial-era architecture and Susquehannock people. Outdoors, the Center has a walking path to its riverside pavilion, paddle launch, and floating dock. This area provides scenic views of the river and the surrounding landscape. Also, seasonal river discovery boat tours are offered aboard the historic Chief Uncas, a 1912 electric-powered boat. Another walking path leads to Native Lands County Park, where staff use interpretive signs to share the story of the Susquehannock village and people that once existed there.

Throughout the year, the Center hosts school visits, guided tours, and public events focused on heritage, environmental education, and conservation. It is also available to rent for small gatherings. The Susquehanna National Heritage Area, which manages the Zimmerman Center, has engaged in strategic planning and community outreach and developed strong partnerships to transform the once privately owned residence into a thriving gateway to river history and culture. A symbol of thoughtful preservation, the Zimmerman Center blends nature, culture, and education, making it a meaningful riverfront destination for residents and visitors, who enhance the local economy.

The Zimmerman Center for Heritage, together with the Boyce Bouldering Park/Pump Track and Outdoor Discovery Center/Sensory Nature Trail (Allegheny Co.), and River Common (Luzerne Co.), comprise the slate of 2025 Great Places in PA in the Public Spaces category. The Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop (Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna/Wyoming Counties) was designated in the Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve category. These Great Places demonstrate the rewarding results that occur through community partnerships, planning, and dedication. In recognizing the 2025 Great Places in PA, the Chapter also celebrates the many community leaders, officials, professionals, and residents who contribute to making the designated places “great.”

 

Contact: Pamela Shellenberger, AICP, Chair, Great Places in Pennsylvania Program
PA Chapter of the American Planning Association
Phone: 717-771-9870 x1768; Email: pshellenberger@ycpc.org

SNHA Contact: Jonathan Pinkerton, AICP, Senior Vice President of Planning & Projects
Phone: 717-252-0229 x102 ; Email: jpinkerton@susqnha.org