The Chester County Commissioners advanced the preservation of more than 1,000 acres of open space at their meeting on Thursday, March 19 – for projects that include the Strode’s Mill Historic District, Anson B. Nixon Park, Barnard’s Orchard and the ChesLen Preserve.
The commissioners also applauded the news from Mark Rupsis, the county’s chief operating officer, that the county’s bond refinancing – expected to save $3.5 million – produced a $5.4 million windfall. Both Rupsis and the commissioners credited a team of hard-working employees for the transaction’s successful outcome.
During Tuesday’s Sunshine meeting, Bill Gladden, director of the county’s Department of Open Space Preservation, noted that the grants to conservancies will preserve 1,054 acres and grants to municipalities will preserve about 17.5 acres, creating recreation opportunities at two new community parks and in three municipalities.
“The recreation opportunities in the municipalities that will result from this round of open space funding benefit all residents,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell. “Chester County’s well-earned reputation as one of the top counties in the nation to live and work is due, in large part, to our balance between managing growth and preserving open space.”
Among the local contracts approved was $105,000 to East Bradford Township, half of the $210,000 needed to acquire a 6.9-acre tract at the corner of Route 52 and Birmingham Road, a property with a colorful history that includes Strode’s scrapple and Revolutionary War heroes.
The commissioners also approved $57,000 to the Kennett Area Park Authority toward a $349,700,000 project to make improvements to the entrance of Anson B. Nixon Park and construct a dog park there.
The Land Conservancy (TLC) for Southern Chester County will receive $500,000 for the purchase of a conservation easement, including public access on 125.2 acres of the Miller property in Kennett Township. The total cost of the project is $1.88 million.
TLC will also get $244,860 toward the purchase of an $822,210 farmland conservation easement on 74.3 acres owned by Barnard’s Orchard in Newlin Township.
Natural Lands Trust will receive $1 million toward the $2.5 million purchase price of 58.2 acres in Newlin Township that will be added to the ChesLen Preserve.
“Chester County’s open space preservation is a key component of our strategic plan,” said Commissioner Kathi Cozzone. “The insight of our open space preservation staff ensures that we are working smart in both the selection of open space projects and the cost to preserve.”
Rebecca Brain, a county spokeswoman, said the more than $5.3 million in open-space expenditures was included in this year’s $7.5 million capital budget for open space preservation. As a result, funds remain for other eligible projects in 2015, she said.
“Open space preservation fits perfectly with Chester County’s VISTA 2025 efforts to guide economic growth over the next 10 years, through a focus on both progress and preservation,” said Commissioner Michelle H. Kichline, who is also co-chair of VISTA 2025. “We know that maintaining our ‘quality of place’ through the preservation and expansion of agriculture, parks and trails is attractive to both residents and businesses.”
The county partnered with municipalities as well as agencies that included the Brandywine Conservancy, Natural Lands Trust, and the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. By the end of 2014, Chester County had preserved more than 123,500 acres, which represents over 25 percent of the county, according to county records.
