Chester County has achieved a significant milestone, as more than 30 percent of the county has now been preserved as open space. According to the analysis of the Chester County Planning Commission’s Protected Open Space Tracking – or POST – system, as of Dec. 31, 2021, Chester County has reached 147,000 acres of preserved land.  

“We have been saying ‘nearly 30 percent’ for a number of years, and now Chester County can confidently proclaim that 30 percent – actually 30.2 percent – of our land is protected, preserved, and will never be developed,” said Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz.  

“As the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania, it remains important to balance land preservation with land development, ensuring the growth takes place in and around our urban areas, so that we can continue to connect parcels of protected open space.”  

To commemorate and celebrate this 30 percent milestone, and to share information on the county’s focus on open space preservation in the future, the commissioners, along with staff from the county’s Planning Commission and Department of Parks + Preservation, will host the 2022 Open Space Summit on Tuesday, May 10 from 4-7 PM at Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore.

Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said, “One of Chester County’s greatest assets is its open space. From green rolling hills, to wooded acres and farm fields – there’s no doubt that preserving a portion of this land is important for the future of the county and its residents. And we are not stopping at 30 percent.”

The 2022 Open Space Summit theme, Farms for the Future, will highlight Chester County’s preserved agricultural land and how it plays a huge role in Chester County’s economy, quality of life, and sense of place. Specifically, the summit will call attention to Chester County’s farming industry as a whole and ways that farming can be responsive to pressing environmental challenges. 

“Farmland is a key aspect of Chester County’s bucolic legacy,” said Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “Thanks to the tremendous partnerships that have been developed with staff from our county departments, members of our Ag Land Preservation Board, our farm owners, conservancies, and municipalities, we are able to add thousands of acres of preserved farmland every year.   

“In fact, of the 2,930 acres preserved last year, nearly half of it was as agricultural conservation easements, which is one reason why this year’s Open Space Summit recognizes the important connection with our farming community.” 

Learn more and register for the 2022 Open Space Summit.