Chester County Commissioners Highlight County Trails

No matter where you go in Chester County, you will find lots of people who are interested in trails. These trails provide unique experiences and places for residents and visitors to exercise and relax, and the County has been working to expand its trail system.

Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell took the opportunity to highlight the County’s growing trail network during their recent public meeting. To start out, the Commissioners adopted a resolution to signify the completion of the Chester Valley Trail West Study that was financed in part by the Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Continue Reading →

Planning Commission Announces Completion of Chester Valley Trail West Study

The Chester County Planning Commission is pleased to announce the completion of the Chester Valley Trail West Feasibility Study/Master Plan. The plan will extend the popular trail westward across the county through the following municipalities: Downingtown, Caln, Coatesville, Valley, Parkesburg, Sadsbury, West Sadsbury, and Atglen.  Continue Reading →

Join us at Chester Valley Trail West Public Meeting

Join us for our final public meeting about the Chester Valley Trail West study on November 7 at Gateway Church, located at 160 Cowan Road in Parkesburg. There will be an open house from 6:30-7:30 p.m. where attendees can view and comment on materials from the draft plan, and at 7:30 p.m. the Planning Commission will present the highlights of the draft plan and recommendations. Register for the meetingContinue Reading →

Recapping Chester Valley Trail West Meeting

Over 100 western Chester County residents and trail enthusiasts from across the county attended a recent public meeting about the Chester Valley Trail West study to learn more about the project and offer input.

The primary purpose of the meeting, which took place at The Parkesburg Point Youth Center on March 1, was to seek public input on the alignment alternatives that have been developed for the trail. Additionally, the project team shared the results of the public survey, which garnered over 2,800 responses. Overall, 89 percent of survey respondents were in favor of extending the Chester Valley Trail to the Lancaster County line.  Continue Reading →

Join us at Chester Valley Trail West Public Meeting

If you are trail enthusiast, resident, business owner, or municipal official who has an interest in the popular Chester Valley Trail, please attend a public meeting about a plan to extend the trail westward on Thursday, March 1 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Point Youth Center in Parkesburg, Pa.

After over seven months of existing conditions analysis, stakeholder meetings, public engagement, and fieldwork, the Chester County Planning Commission has developed a series of potential alignment alternatives for extending the Chester Valley Trail westward to the Lancaster County line. The project team is conducting the upcoming public meeting to get feedback on these alignment alternatives.  Continue Reading →

Planning Commission Releases Final Plan for Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown

The Chester County Planning Commission is proud to release the final Chester Valley Trail Extension to Downingtown Feasibility Study and Master Plan. We are very excited about the potential for developing this trail in the heart of central Chester County and expanding The Circuit, Greater Philadelphia’s regional trail network. The Chester County Commissioners accepted the plan at their December meeting to close out the grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program that partially funded the study.  Continue Reading →

Making Progress on Chester Valley Trail West Study

The New Year is a great time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to express gratitude for those who have helped along the way. We at the Chester County Planning Commission made a lot of progress on our Chester Valley Trail West study in 2017. The project kicked off in July, and our efforts thus far have involved getting input from a lot of people. We are grateful not only for the interest that has been shown in this project, but also for the generosity with which people have shared their time to provide us with ideas and feedback about the trail.  Continue Reading →

Local Municipalities Receive Grants to Improve Recreation, Community Revitalization

Some Chester County municipalities and local organizations are recipients of grants that will create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize local communities.

The Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) awards are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The total amount distributed to Chester County applicants this year was $5,065,700.  Continue Reading →

Fall Planner Forum Recap

Earlier this month, over 40 local planners participated in our semi-annual Planner’s Forum.  Planners from all disciplines networked to hear about the comprehensive plan update, creative funding opportunities, complete streets, and millennial characteristics.  The presentations from the forum are now available.  Continue Reading →