A documentary film examining land use and community planning in Pennsylvania, “Saving Pennsylvania,” is gaining renewed attention as its creator, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Hylton, continues a decades-long advocacy for thoughtful development. Hylton, a native of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, first brought his concerns about unchecked sprawl and the loss of farmland to public attention through editorials written for The Pottstown Mercury, earning a Pulitzer Prize in 1990.
Hylton’s work extends beyond journalism. He authored the book Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, published in 1995, and founded Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting comprehensive planning and preserving traditional communities. The organization advocates for towns and cities that integrate people of all ages, races, and incomes.
The documentary, originally broadcast on Pennsylvania PBS stations and subsequently aired on over 100 PBS stations nationwide, visually reinforces the arguments presented in Hylton’s book. It highlights the importance of preserving open space, farmland, and historic structures while fostering walkable, livable communities. Hylton has presented his ideas in nearly 500 talks across Pennsylvania and 34 other states, addressing groups ranging from state governors at the National Governors’ Association to legislators in both the Democratic and Republican caucuses of the Pennsylvania House and Senate.
Hylton’s advocacy has been recognized with multiple awards, including three annual journalism awards from the American Planning Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation award for his book. In 1993, he received a fellowship from the Society of Professional Journalists to study state planning issues. He spent 22 years writing for The Mercury before dedicating himself fully to his book and non-profit work in 1994.
Hylton and his wife, Frances, a retired elementary school teacher, have lived in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, since 1973. He previously conceived and organized Trees Inc., a non-profit that raised nearly $500,000 to plant and maintain street trees in Pottstown. In 2022, Hylton received the Montgomery County Planning Advocate Award for his lifelong commitment to good planning and design.
“Saving Pennsylvania” is currently available on YouTube, offering a wider audience access to Hylton’s vision for sustainable community development. Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Inc. Continues to operate, advocating for policies that prioritize responsible land use and community building throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.
