Chadds Ford residents knew this was about to happen, but the North American Land Trust announced that it has opened Brinton Run Preserve off Oakland Road in Chadds Ford Township. The township has been working with NALT for almost three years to secure, ease, and conserve the property. The 71-acre preserve is an historic tract of the Battle of Brandywine where American and British forces fought on Sept. 11, 1777.
The American Battlefield Trust previously identified the historic battlefield site as one of the most important unprotected tracts of the Brandywine Battlefield. Now, the battlefield and its natural resources at Brinton Run Preserve will be open to the public and protected forever.
Brinton Run Preserve is the first public preserve owned and managed by NALT, a national land trust that has protected more than 136,000 acres in its 30-year history. The preserve offers two loop trails of approximately 1.5 miles for walking or jogging through the formerly agricultural fields of Brinton Run Preserve.
“We are excited to open our first public preserve to visitors,” said Steven Carter, NALT president. “Brinton Run Preserve is a place where people can enjoy a wide array of plant and wildlife species and learn about the historical significance of this battlefield.”
Carter added: “Brinton Run Preserve is a work-in-progress, and we expect to add more trails and attractions in the coming months and years.”
Carter said the effort to save the property began in 2019 when Sandra Baldino approached NALT to discuss acquiring the property for a public preserve. NALT was able to raise more than $4 million to purchase the property with the financial support from the American Battlefield Trust, Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County’s Open Space and Recreation Grant Program, Mt. Cuba Center, the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“This amazing partnership of individuals, community groups, and government agencies came together to save this historic battlefield and create a public preserve that can be enjoyed for generations to come,” Carter said. “We thank everyone who supported our vision and helped make it a reality.”
The preserve will be open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitors are welcome to walk or jog along the preserve trails. NALT staff has posted signs along the trails and walkers are asked to stay within the boundaries. No pets of any kind are permitted within the preserve.
Visitors are instructed to park in the wood chip lot enclosed by the historic snake rail fence, immediately to the left of the entrance gate at 6 Oakland Road. If the lot is full, visitors are kindly asked to return on another day.
Brinton Run is an ecological preserve. Visitors are asked to leave no trash behind. There are no restroom facilities available on the preserve. However, there are facilities and commercial establishments just minutes away from the preserve.
NALT is planning to add to facilities in the future, including an educational center for visitors to learn about history and ecology. NALT is currently seeking donations to help further the mission of Brinton Run Preserve.
Supporters can donate to Brinton Run Preserve at https://northamericanlandtrust.org/donate/
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