West Chester, PA (October 5, 2023) – Seven projects to protect and restore local watersheds and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation through new park and trail upgrades were awarded more than $1.5 million in total state funding, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
“Investments in supporting clean water and developing new spaces for outdoor recreation and enjoyment are investments in our public health, environmental health, economic health, and the overall great quality of life in Chester County,” Comitta, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said. “From resurfacing playing courts in West Chester and West Goshen to building an outdoor amphitheater in Penn Township to expanding our regional trail system in West Whiteland and East Bradford, these funds will go a long way in supporting projects that benefit residents, families, and visitors.”
The projects, located in the 19th Senatorial District, will receive grant funding administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).
They are as follows:
- $50,300 for the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance to install approximately 7 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lower Delaware River Watershed. Work will include landowner outreach and engagement, buffer plantings and post-planting establishment, project signage, and other related site improvements.
- $500,000 for Chester County for design work related to the development of approximately 3.4 miles of the Chester Valley Trail in West Whiteland, East Bradford, and East Caln townships. The trail runs from the Whitford Bridge in West Whiteland Township to the Downingtown Trestle in East Caln Township and will include one trailhead.
- $500,000 for East Bradford Township to develop the Plum Run Trail. The project consists of building about ¼ mile of trail, one trailhead, one pedestrian bridge, an outdoor educational interpretive center, landscaping, signage, and other related site improvements, including the restoration of the Plum Run riparian buffer.
- $150,000 for Penn Township for further development of Penn Township Community Park. Work will include the construction of an amphitheater and installation of utilities ADA access, landscaping, project signage, and other related site improvements.
- $137,300 for West Chester Borough for the rehabilitation of Hoopes Park, including renovating its tennis courts, constructing a pedestrian walkway, and installing fencing, ADA access, landscaping, project signage, and other related site improvements.
- $200,000 for West Goshen Township for the rehabilitation and further development of West Goshen Community Park. The project calls for renovating the basketball courts and constructing pedestrian walkways, a spray park, a comfort station, stormwater management measures, ADA access, landscaping, project signage, and other related site improvements.
- $50,900 for the Willistown Conservation Trust to install approximately 10 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Lower Delaware River Watershed in Chester and Delaware counties. Work will include landowner outreach and engagement, buffer plantings and post-planting establishment, project signage, and other related site improvements.
The funds comes as part of $52.5 million in total C2P2 funding awarded to more than 225 recreation and conservation projects across the Commonwealth. They include 23 trail projects; protecting nearly 6,835 acres of open space; 13 projects for river conservation; 13 community and watershed forestry projects; and 99 projects to develop or rehabilitate recreation, park and conservation areas and facilities.
The C2PR grant program is funded by a variety of state and federal funding sources. The Chester County projects were funded through the Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Keystone Tree Fund, and the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.