County awards preservation grants

WEST CHESTER � Chester County allocated more money Thursday toward open-space preservation.

County commissioners agreed to put $5 million toward $43 million worth of open-space projects covering a total of 2,267 acres in West Pikeland, North Coventry, Newlin, London Britain, Kennett, Charlestown, Elk, Franklin, New London, Caln, East Brandywine, Uwchlan and West Nottingham.

�Our private and public partners in open-space preservation really stepped up to the plate,� said Commissioner Carol Aichele.

The county�s largest contribution, $2 million, went to phase one of the Conservation Fund�s Springlawn Corridor project in Elk, Franklin and New London. The project covers 1,719 acres in the three townships. The land is adjacent to Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area in Maryland, which is a major site for outdoor recreation.

�I think it�s a tremendous gift to the entire region,� said Phil Geoghegan, chairman of Franklin Township�s open-space committee. �It�s certainly some

thing that those of us trying to preserve open space have dreamt about.�

Geoghegan said the project is likely the most significant preservation effort in decades.

Of the $5 million, $426,000 will go to the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust for acquisition of Desfor Farms in Charlestown. The farm is in an extensive network of wetlands and hydric soils that continue through the adjacent downstream properties, according to county officials.

Aliena Gerhard, Charlestown�s director of open-space preservation, said that through local, county and state efforts, residents will be benefit from the watershed protection.

�Chester County supports us, especially in the last year,� Gerhard said.

Charlestown started targeting open space a few years ago as officials saw the county grow, Gerhard said. Growth can bring more traffic and higher taxes, Gerhard said.

The county put $849,000 toward acquisition of the �lion�s share� � 199 acres � of the Unionville Barrens in Newlin, one of the six most significant natural areas in the county�s natural land inventory, according to the county.

The Unionville Barrens is one of the few serpentine barrens left in Pennsylvania, according to the county.

The county also issued $1.8 million in municipal park grants. The grants cover a total of 288 acres in West Brandywine, North Coventry, London Grove, Franklin, East Vincent, East Bradford and Charlestown.