A recent grant approval has ensured Chester County will continue its legacy of open space preservation, writes Mike Rellahan for The Daily Local News.
On July 23, county commissioners voted to allocate $2.3 in grant money toward environmental preservation. The funds will go to various conservancies and municipalities throughout the county to protect parks, farms, wetlands, and recreational areas.
The vote comes after decades of prioritizing open space preservation across Chester County.
Thirty-five years ago, commissioners floated a $50 million bond to pay land owners, private conservancies, and local municipalities. This was more money than any other county in Pennsylvania had allocated to protect open land and reduce over-development.
In the years since, both commissioners and residence have ranked land protection as a top community need. In a 2023 survey, residents ranked open space preservation as the second most important priority, behind emergency services.
Agencies receiving new funding include the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, French & Pickering Conservation Trust, and Natural Lands. Municipalities include Uwchlan, Caln, and Oxford Townships, among others.
About the significance of environmental protection, county commissioner Eric Roe said, “To lose our iconic landscapes to urban sprawl would mean losing our identity as a rural county. That’s why this is such an important investment.”
Read more about Chester County commissioners recent approval of county funds going toward open space preservation in The Daily Local News.
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