Planning Kennett Connections
Posted March 26, 2024
As part of the ongoing efforts of a Regional Trails Committee formed back in 2001 to help broaden trail connections within southern Chester County, the municipalities of Kennett Square Borough, Kennett Township, and East Marlborough — working with the committee and various stakeholders — launched a plan for the future of the region's walking and biking trails through the Planning Kennett Connections study, which was completed in July of 2023.
Kyle Coleman, Kennett Square's Borough Manager, along with project consultants Christina Norland of Square Roots Collective and Brian Donovan of Bowman, provided an overview of the plan at the Chester County Planning Commission's March Board meeting.
The consultants highlighted the plan's background and timeline, vision and goals, findings and connectivity, and next steps. They noted that the plan was funded in part by CCPC's Vision Partnership Program, along with support from the municipalities involved and Longwood Gardens.
Overall, the plan focuses on identifying potential sidewalks, trails, and on-road biking facilities in order to connect the region's Eastern area to the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway and Route 52 Bikeway; the Northwestern area to Unionville, Willowdale, and Unionville Road (Route 82); and a Western area to downtown Kennett Square, Anson B. Nixon Park, and the Kennett Greenway.
While Kennett Trails Alliance provided much of the leadwork on the project, the county provided much of the technical support and funding. Other partners include Bike Kennett, Friends of New Garden Trails, and various consultants.