Community Who Cares: Valley Forge Park Alliance

Community Who Cares highlights the nonprofit organizations in King of Prussia whose work makes our community stronger. Today, we turn our spotlight to the Valley Forge Park Alliance, a group dedicated to preserving, protecting and advocating for one of our region’s greatest treasures: Valley Forge National Historical Park.

The Valley Forge Park Alliance (VFPA) is an independent nonprofit that serves as the “friends” organization partner for the national park, helping create programs that encourage education, volunteering and exploration of the park.

The story of stewardship at Valley Forge stretches back well over a century when citizen stewards under the leadership of Anna Holstein began efforts in 1877 to protect Washington’s Headquarters and the surrounding landscape. In 1893, the area was established as Pennsylvania’s first state park, and on July 4, 1976, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gave the park to the people of the United States to become a unit of the National Park Service.

The current nonprofit was formerly known as the Friends of Valley Forge and became the Valley Forge Park Alliance in 2017.

VFPA offers educational programming that brings to life the history of the encampment, reminding us of the men and women, the enslaved people, Indigenous people, children and others who endured harsh conditions in the winter of 1777-78. The Alliance’s educational work is an act of stewardship, ensuring that the landscape and story of Valley Forge remain relevant to new generations. It also supports volunteer opportunities and fundraising so that the park can sustain both its natural environment and its historic setting.

In recent years the Alliance has undertaken major projects that enhance the visitor experience and strengthen the park’s role as a community resource. One of the biggest is the adaptive reuse of the historic Maurice Stephens House (built circa 1816) which the Alliance is leasing from the Park Service to turn into its headquarters, event space, a café and visitor hub. The organization received a $500,000 grant from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for this project, which is currently under construction.

Another recent accomplishment involves trail connectivity and infrastructure improvements. The Alliance played a role in promoting the North Gulph Road Connector Trail project that will link the park with the Chester Valley Trail through King of Prussia and connect onward to the Schuylkill River Trail. The result will be improved access, better recreation opportunities and stronger ties between the park and the growing surrounding region.

The Alliance also hosts speaker series, bird walks, volunteering events and other programs that invite the public to engage with the park beyond just a visit.

For our community in King of Prussia and Upper Merion, the Valley Forge Park Alliance serves as a bridge between the park’s rich historical legacy and the everyday lives of residents. It helps ensure the park remains a place for learning, recreation and reflection. Whether it’s a volunteer planting native species on a trail, attending a lecture on the revolutionary era or simply enjoying a family walk among the trees, the Alliance’s work makes those experiences possible.

If you’re looking to make a difference, the Alliance offers meaningful ways to get involved: volunteer your time, become a member, attend events or financially support projects like the Maurice Stephens House renovation. Every gesture helps preserve the park’s past while strengthening its future.

Additionally, business sponsorship opportunities are available to celebrate America250 at Valley Forge National Historical Park. To learn more, contact Christy Dernlan, Development Director, at christy@vfparkalliance.org.

Valley Forge Park Alliance stands out as an organization that lives its mission daily, bringing together history, nature and community in one of the region’s most iconic places.

vfparkalliance.org