Open Space
Open Space Plan presentation, May 21, 2008 (PDF, 9.34 MB)
In 2006, Chester County reached a significant milestone when the 100,000th acre of open space was protected from development. This acreage represents about 20 percent of the County’s total area. Because the preservation of open land impacts all parts of Chester County, open space protection was identified as one of the topics to be addressed by the Landscapes2 Steering Committee.
Benefits of Protected Open Space
Open spaces that are protected from development through easements or public ownership provide tangible benefits to Chester County. Protected open spaces, from wildlife preserves to trail corridors, increase the real estate values of nearby properties. Businesses are more likely to locate in regions with protected open spaces, because open spaces can provide amenities to employees. Furthermore, businesses located in communities with access to open space are more likely to be able to attract top employees.
Open Space Planning, Preservation and Protection
Chester County has attracted residential and commercial development in part due to its beautiful landscapes combined with a close proximity to employment opportunities. As this intense development pressure continues, it should be assumed that within Chester County, any open space that is not rigorously protected by an easement will be developed over the next few decades. For this reason, it is essential for municipalities to plan ahead to protect open spaces as part of their growth management strategy.
Parks and Recreational Facilities
Suburban land use patterns are dominant throughout much of eastern Chester County, and in areas surrounding the boroughs and the City of Coatesville. While there are few agricultural properties or forested areas remaining in the suburban landscape to be protected as open space, there are opportunities to protect recreational parks and trail corridors. As the County becomes more developed, there is likely to be more of a focus on the role of parks and trails in open space planning.
Open Space Protected through Partnerships
Approximately 40 percent of the protected open space in Chester County is land that has been preserved by non-profit land trusts working in coordination with private land owners. Although a significant portion of these efforts involve funding through public grants, there is minimal government involvement in the ongoing management of these properties. There are still abundant open space parcels in the central and western parts of the County which could be eased. However, these large parcels are under threat of development.
Protected Farmland
About two out of every ten acres of protected open space in Chester County is farmland that has been protected with an agricultural conservation easement. This program is especially cost-effective because the farmers take care of maintaining the property, which in the long term is the most costly aspect of open space protection. In terms of open space planning, farmland preservation has the greatest potential for expansion. The County and state-funded farmland preservation program has the capacity to continue its work for many years to come. However, there are many challenges such as the aging population of farmers and the reluctance of Plain Sect farmers to protect their land through publicly funded initiatives.
Nature Preserves, Trails, Greenways and Wildlife Corridors
Most of the land use in Chester County is developed land or agriculture, which typically limits the expansion of forests or open wildlife habitat. As a result, protected open spaces are often the only functioning habitat throughout much of the County. Protected open spaces can provide locations for plants and animals to flourish, especially those that do not adapt well to human activities. Wilderness habitat can only function properly if it is linked together, permitting animals to migrate and avoid inbreeding and disease. Wildlife corridors are therefore essential to the health of established nature preserves.
Open Space Funding Challenges
In the past, discussion about the funding of open space has focused on financing the acquisition of open space. With rising land costs in Chester County, this will remain a pressing issue. However, with the success of land protection programs comes a new funding issue; the cost of maintenance. Properties that have already been protected must be maintained to ensure that they are not used for dumping or other inappropriate uses. There is also a need for monitoring to ensure that natural resources are not degraded by invasive non-native plants or animals.