The Trust is a leader in trail protection in northern Chester County through its collaboration with county and state funding agencies and municipalities. Ongoing projects include the French Creek Trail from East Pikeland to Warwick Township, the Boars Back Trail from St. Peters to Elverson, and its participation in the Hopewell Big Woods project, which seeks to improve connections to the regional trail system, including the Schuylkill River Trail and the Horse-Shoe Trail.

Trail News

The Chester County Commissioners and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) have awarded the Trust a combined $54,714 in matching funds to continue its acquisition work on the ten-mile South Coventry-to-East Pikeland section of the French Creek Trail. The County award of $44,814 follows a 2003 grant of $78,780, which was extended several times over the past seven years, illustrating the County’s faith in the project and its understanding of the importance of this integral link to several other existing and proposed trails in the region. Nearly 2,000 linear feet of trail were purchased with these funds. Currently, negotiations are underway to protect another 600 feet.
The $9,700 DCNR grant was awarded through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program. Building “community conservation partnerships” with nonprofit organizations is a high priority for the Administration, enabling the land trust community to protect critical natural areas and open space, develop greenways and trails to provide recreation opportunities, and to strive to improve the quality of life in the state.
This grant is the third one awarded by DCNR for this project since 2005. In such a highly competitive environment, this award illustrates the importance of trail projects to the state funders.