The Antietam Valley Community Partnership (AVCP) was founded to improve the quality of life in the Antietam Valley, which includes the Boroughs of Mount Penn and Saint Lawrence, the Township of Lower Alsace, and the immediately surrounding area.
AVCP has big plans for enriching our community. We are interested in improving access to quality community recreation for children and adults, as well as working to identify ways to “shine the light” on the many positive characteristics of the Antietam Valley. We support community enrichment and economic development projects, especially those that impact the quality of life for families and residents. Finally, we are committed to maintaining close working partnerships with other organizations in the community, including the Antietam Valley Recreation & Community Center, Recreation Commission of the Antietam Valley, local sports leagues, religious organizations, and other groups.
AVCP is governed by a board of directors which includes representation from municipalities in the area, as well as the Antietam School District, and the offices of Representative Mark Rozzi and Senator Judy Schwank. Formal representation on the board allows each of those organizations to inform and cooperate with AVCP activities and plans. The board has seats for 21 members, each of whom pledges to make a personal financial contribution to AVCPʼs work.
One of AVCPʼs main objectives is to build pride in the Antietam Valley through the development of community events. From our first events in 2011, our initial year, AVCP has worked hard to develop and create special events for families living in the area.
Over the years AVCP has developed a series of successful community events, most of which are held each year, including free outdoor movies at the A-Field, a free Summer Playground Program at Carsonia Park, the annual Community Yard Sale and Flea Market, a Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration and Reception at Carsonia Park, a Street Fair, a Historic Trolley Tour, a fall Halloween event, and a community dinner at Antietam High School. Since 2015, AVCP has organized and operated the Antietam Valley Farmersʼ and Artist’s Market at Carsonia Park, a 5K Fun Run and Walk in Pennside, the Carsonia Craft Beer Amusement, and free Concerts in Carsonia Park. New in 2017 was our collaboration with the Antietam School District to create a successful summer S.T.E.A.M program which provided the opportunity for children to learn more about Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math during their summer break.
AVCP also supports a number of charitable causes in the area. In 2013, AVCP provided the grant match funding of $2,000 to the Lower Alsace Tree-Vitalize Program, which planted over 70 street trees along Carsonia Avenue and Prospect Streets. AVCP has also made substantial financial contributions to the Mount Penn Area Business Association, the Antietam School Musical Productions, each of the three Fire Departments in the area (Exeter, Lower Alsace and Mount Penn), Central Berks Regional Police Department, the Lower Alsace Ambulance Association, the Antietam High School Post Prom Party, and the Antietam Community Players.
A major focus of AVCP continues to be its commitment to the Master Plan for Carsonia Park. AVCP is working closely with a wide range of partners, including each of the municipalities in the area, the Recreation Commission of the Antietam Valley (RCV), the Antietam Valley Recreation and Community Center (AVRCC), the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Antietam School District, and Berks Nature (formerly Berks County Conservancy. The goal is to identify grants and fundraising events to assist with the funding for the improvements called for in the Master Plan.
AVCPʼs Board Meetings are open to the public, and are held every month at Trinity UCC in Mount Penn. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM.