County Commissioners just gave Chester County a little more space to play by signing off on the preservation of more than 1,000 acres of open space that will eventually give residents two new community parks and more recreational opportunities in three communities.

“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,” Commissioner and VISTA 2025 Co-Chair Michelle Kichline said in a press release. “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.”

Public access acres were saved in Caln, East Bradford, Newlin, Warwick, East Nantmeal and North Coventry, while city park land expanded for the Kennett Area Park Authority, New London, West Pikeland and Phoenixville; farmland preservation took place in Newlin, Warwick, East Nantmeal and Honey Brook Township. The county’s Department of Open Space Preservation granted 1,054 acres to conservancies and 17.5 acres to municipalities.

“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,” Chairman Terence Farrell said.