Blog

A White Paper on Conservation, Nature-Based Placemaking, and Community Revitalization The Mountain Springs Recreational Preserve represents an opportunity to transform one of Ephrata's most valuable public assets into a community resource that balances environmental stewardship, recreation, and economic vitality. Rather than proposing development of the mountain, the initiative seeks to preserve it through thoughtful management, ecological restoration, and carefully designed passive recreation.

The following article is posted with permission from Pennsylvania Borough News, August 2026 Time spent outdoors provides numerous benefits to individuals, from stress reduction to lower blood pressure to an enhanced sense of connection. Conserved lands like state parks and forests – where outdoor recreational opportunities abound – provide nearby residents with clean air and pure water that also keep them healthy.

There's a conversation that comes up again and again in Ephrata: the downtown we remember, and the downtown we want back. The energy was real. But it's worth asking honestly: Does the lifestyle that made it vibrant exist today?

Due to extreme heat forecasted, this event has been cancelled. Main Street is about to become the most colorful place in Lancaster County. On Friday, July 3, Mainspring of Ephrata presents the 4th annual Chalk the Walk, a free, family-friendly celebration inviting artists of all ages to transform downtown sidewalks into a sweeping open-air gallery with a patriotic theme in honor of America's 250th birthday.

We have some exciting news to share — and it's the kind that will be visible right on Main Street.

Mainspring of Ephrata is drafting a Master Site Plan for the 200-acre Ephrata Mt. Springs Recreational Preserve. As part of that process, Mainspring’s consultant, YSM, hosted a public open house on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Small commitment. Big impact. Join the team moving Ephrata forward. Downtown Ephrata doesn't just happen. The fresh storefront that caught your eye on Main Street, the concert that filled the plaza on a summer evening, the historic building that got a second life instead of a slow decline — those things happen because people choose to invest in them. The Mainspring Collective is your invitation to be one of those people.

Looking for a meaningful way to make a real impact in Ephrata?  Mainspring of Ephrata is currently seeking passionate, community-minded individuals to fill open seats on our Board of Directors!

A Look at What's Happening in Ephrata

As the Ephrata Mountain Springs Preserve enters the Draft Master Plan phase, the community has had many questions. We've gathered the ones we see most often and answered them here.