To preserve, maintain, and appropriately restore the Schuylkill Canal and its surrounding lands and man made structures; to encourage wide public use of the area and an appreciation of its natural environment; to seek ways to further general education in the area's history through programming and interpretation; to provide facilities and enhanced settings for various kinds of passive recreation; to seek support of individuals and private organizations, and of local, regional, state and federal governments, to achieve these goals; and to solicit, receive, and expend funds for such purposes.

The SCA is a not-for-profit group of volunteers that provides historical interpretation and conducts activities at the park, which is owned by Montgomery County and operated as part of the Montgomery County Park System. The SCA has come a long way since its beginnings as a township advisory committee. It is now one of the major players in the statewide project of transforming the Schuylkill into a recreational and economic asset. It is credited throughout the region with having created the most complete restoration project to date along the river. 

Schuylkill Canal Park consists of 60 acres of land and waterways that are managed and maintained by Montgomery County. Both the SCA and Montgomery County encourage public use and enjoyment of the site, and the SCA's rich community programs and major historical reconstruction projects all depend on the volunteer participation of a great many people.The SCA is a community enterprise.

Each year, roughly 25,000 people visit the area for recreation or for historical interest. Fishing, canoeing, bicycling, picnicking, hiking, and jogging are all easily accommodated along the canal. Literature in the kiosk and in the Locktender’s house provides answers to their interest in the place’s history.

The SCA organizes and empowers residents, corporations, and governmental bodies to participate in the preservation of this unique resource.