The legacy of the colonial soldiers who fought the Battle of Brandywine — and that of those who fought in all of the other battles in the American War of Independence — deserves to be preserved.
So, It’s frustrating to hear that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania still doesn’t know what it wants to do with the Brandywine Battlefield Park. The park’s status is “up in the air,” according to Stephen Miller, the director for the Bureau of Historic Sites/Museums, a division of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Miller made the comment during a meeting of the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force held at the park on June 7. The task force is looking for ways to preserve the battlefield landmark, but it seems the park itself is not a priority.
PHMC still pays for maintenance of the site on Route 1, but stopped funding the day-to-day operation in August of 2009 because of state budget tightening. After a brief shutdown, the Friends of the Brandywine Battlefield were allowed to reopen the park, but it’s not open full time.
As reported in this issue of ChaddsFordLive.com, Miller said PHMC is looking at different models of operation and that: “The status of the park is not yet fully determined.”
It’s been three years. What’s the state waiting for?
There’s been some unofficial speculation that it’s waiting for the legislature to get its fiscal house in order, and then resume operation of the park when the state can afford it. On one hand that makes some sense, but one has to wonder whether the current politicians can actually correct the state’s financial situation.
It should also be asked whether the friends group would get something for acting as a foster parent. Of course, members probably don’t care about that. They care about preserving the site for its own sake.
Miller also said that the state is not looking to sell the site. Selling, however, might be the right thing to do. A private entity with a dedication to preserving history might do better than the state at running the site. Another option would be to lease the park out to a private management company that’s allowed to make a profit.
Private management has helped save elephants in Africa and the American bison in the U.S. Privately owned toll roads tend to be better maintained than government owned roads. Bryant Park in Manhattan was in horrible condition when publicly operated by the city of New York, but was cleaned up and became well used once a private management firm took over.
Some people might complain that a private company is only after profit. So what? The men who fought for American independence from Britain were fighting for private property, not government owned land. And if a private entity can maintain the park and preserve its educational function, it would well deserve any profit it makes.
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