West Chester, Pa. (October 7, 2026) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Representative Melissa Shusterman announced today that funding was awarded for an addition to the Rushton Woods Preserve in Willistown.
The Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) was awarded $1.5 million in state funding for the project through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).
The funds will support the acquisition of land to add to the Ruston Woods Preserve, an 86-acre preserve managed by WCT.
“As development pressures continue to close in on our region, investments in open space and forest preservation are increasingly important. The Rushton Woods Preserve is a place where families can go to experience nature, get active, enjoy the outdoors, and learn about the importance of local wildlife and ecology,” Comitta said. “I want to thank DCNR, and the Willistown Conservation Trust for working together to expand this environmental treasure.”
“Rushton Woods plays an important role in our communities: it supports environmental health, protects our natural resources, and provides a space for our residents to connect with each other and nature. I’m grateful to the DCNR for recognizing the importance of preservation and conservation of these spaces in our communities and all across the Commonwealth,” said Shusterman.
The preserve currently features three miles of pedestrian and equestrian trails, a 1,200-foot-long segment of Okehocking Run, meadows, wetlands, and mature woodland, an important bird area and federally licensed bird banding station, and more than 150 shrubs and native species. It’s also home to the Ruston Community Farm and Rushton Conservation Center, which host a variety of WCT community and educational events.
The C2P2 grant program is funded by a variety of state and federal funding sources. The Rushton Woods project was funded through the Keystone Fund.
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