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Established June 2, 1997
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A beautiful part of southeastern Pennsylvania
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Open Space Commission - Newsletter 4 - Winter 2003
Contents:
A Priceless Gift
I moved from the Main Line to Charlestown Township in 2000, awed by its beauty. My husband and I purchased a 300 year old home on a property that had a pond, a stream, and wetlands. We shared this land with many creatures- including a pair of Canadian geese, who raised several families over the years, two bullfrogs, fish, several turtles, mallard and wood ducks, orioles, a great blue heron, a red fox and her family, deer, snakes, and a great horned owl.
Many of my friends asked me how I could stand it being so quiet "out there in the country". Obviously, they have never heard the "Peepers" in the spring – whose calls are deafening! Nor have they heard the calls of the foxes, bullfrogs, geese, or owls that fill the air. After living here, I know I never want to go back to living in the Main Line.
Over the past three years, however, I have witnessed new traffic lights installed, roads widened, trees cleared, and houses built throughout Northern Chester County. The stars in the sky are not as bright as they were just three years ago, and the sounds of wildlife, less obvious. One thing I do see is many more dead animals at the side of the road.
I became a member of the Open Space Commission and joined a group of individuals passionately committed to the preservation of Charlestown’s Open Space. Each takes many hours out of every week to serve on the Commission and work throughout the Township. Through their work, we all benefit.
In this edition of the Open Space Commission’s newsletter, you will read about the bounty of the Charlestown Cooperative Farm; the value of horses to the community; the beautiful horse-shoe trail that runs through our Township; and the implementation of an earned income tax to help preserve open space in our Township. All of these are gifts. They are gifts not only to us but also to our children. In order to ensure that these gifts continue to bless our Township, we must take an active role in preserving open space. We cannot leave it to others but must roll up our sleeves, and, at times, open our wallets a little bit. We can help future generations experience the Township as we do, passing to them, the priceless gift we know as Charlestown.
Aliena J. Gerhard - Editor
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Open Space Referendum
Earlier this year the Board of Supervisor's voted in favor of enacting a 1/2 percent Earned Income Tax effective January 1st 2004. The purpose of this tax is to fund open space projects. These projects may consist of outright purchases or more likely, purchases of easements and/or development rights. The funds could also be used for Open Space Projects such as the restoration of the Historic Woolen Mill in the Charlestown Village or preservation and stabilization of the Longwood School site on Valley Hill Road. These ruins are the site of the first African American school in the Township.
At the July 31st meeting of the Board of Supervisors this year a motion was made to place a referendum on the ballot this November asking the voters if they would support the tax being utilized only for open space projects. The purpose of this was to tie the hands of future Boards so we would be guaranteed that these funds would not be squandered on other Township expenditures. The formal referendum language was very confusing and misleading and the Township was required by law to use this wording. After a lengthy debate and on the advice from our Solicitor that it was not legally possible to restrict the use of the funds by future Boards the motion was not passed.
The majority of the present Board and all candidates running for election or reelection this November are committed to using these funds only for Open Space Preservation. In the years to come this question should be asked of all future Boards and candidates running for public office; Are you committed to utilizing the Earned Income Tax solely for the purpose of Open Space Preservation? Only this community involvement will assure that Charlestown landscape is preserved.
With the estimated $500,000 plus in annual revenues that will be generated from the new tax, Charlestown Township is well on its way to preserving our best assets for future generations.
Kevin Kuhn
The Charlestown Cooperative Farm - How farming can still flourish in Charlestown
The success of the Charlestown Cooperative Farm (www.charlestowncooperativefarm.org) is demonstrating how farming can thrive in a suburban location such as Charlestown and how open space can be put to great use. The farm operates on 40 acres at 2565 Charlestown Road as a non-profit community supported farm in which subscribers purchase a share in the output of the farm. Throughout the growing season, from June through November, members visit the farm weekly to pick up produce harvested on the farm, cut fresh flowers and herbs, and harvest selected vegetables themselves in the "you pick" garden. The produce is grown in an ecologically sensitive, sustainable fashion in which no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used.
Thanks to an abundance of rain and the great skill of farmers Aimee Kocis and John Good, the harvest was extremely good this year with 85 families sharing the harvest. Next year, the farm will expand to 110 members to accommodate families currently on the membership waiting list. Additional produce is sold at the Phoenixville Farmers' Market, a non-profit growers' market which the Farm has helped to organize and which operates from June through mid-October at the Foundry on Main Street by the French Creek in Phoenixville.
It is clear from the growing number of shoppers at the Phoenixville Farmers' Market and the size of the waiting list to join the Cooperative Farm that there is a considerable unmet demand for fresh locally grown organic produce and meats. To meet this demand, the Cooperative Farm would like to acquire additional land in the Township to expand its operation to include pasture based organic beef and dairy operations. In addition, as part of the Cooperative Farm's mission to encourage sustainable farming in Charlestown, Aimee and John are available to advise and assist land owners in developing their own organic farming operations so that a community of sustainable farms can be established in Charlestown.
If you are interested in investigating the establishment of an organic farming operation on your property, please contact Aimee and John at goodaim@aol.com. Organic farming does not require a huge property or an enormous investment in farm equipment and it thrives in a suburban setting, making it particularly well suited to Charlestown.
Bill Andersen
New Horse-Shoe Trail Subcommittee
The Open Space Commission recently chartered a subcommittee to address a number of the issues related to the preservation of the Horse-Shoe Trail in Charlestown Township. The charge to the subcommittee includes: determining the value of the trail to the township, creating a plan to monitor the trail in Charlestown, and acquisition of easements to preserve the trail.
The urgency in the chartering -of this committee resulted from two recent trail relocations that has forced the trail from wooded areas onto township roads. In this case, the roads in question are Union Hill Road and Pikeland Road, where heavy traffic conditions and an absence of shoulders create significant safety issues for trail users.
The Horse-Shoe Trail is a historic trail dating back to the mid-1930's. The concept was to provide a trail for equestrians (Horse) and hikers (Shoe). Many sections are also open to mountain bike traffic. The trail starts in Valley Forge National Park and terminates at an intersection with the Appalachian Trail on Stony Mountain The trail ends about 10 miles north of Harrisburg. The trail enters the township near Howell Road and exits on Bodine Road with several very nice wooded sections between. The entire trail is currently about 140 miles long although the length varies from time-to-time due to relocations.
The route of the trail follows roughly along a series of old roads that connected the historic furnaces and forges that were prevalent is this area of Pennsylvania. A number of the more recognizable landmarks connected by this trail are Valley Forge National Park, Warwick County Park, Hopewell Furnace, French Creek State Park, Cornwall Furnace, and finally, the Appalachian Trail (which is also a National Park).
The trail traverses numerous small private parcels in addition to the larger public properties. The subcommittee is currently in the process of trying to determine whether there are any existing problems along the trail within the township, and if so, how these problems can be resolved. The trail crosses the many private properties through arrangements made by the Horse-Shoe Trail Club. Charlestown has an interest in making sure that this privilege is not abused.
In Charlestown, trails are intended to connect places of interest and open spaces. The Horse-Shoe Trail already meets these criteria as it connects the Great Valley Nature Center, Charlestown Elementary School, and the township-owned Brightside Farm. Just before entering the township from Tredyffrin Township, the trail also passes the Wharton Esherick Museum.
Committee members are: Sue Staas (chairperson), Margy Crawford, Paul Hogan, Bob Jones, and Rick Reis. For more information about the work of the committee or about the trail, please feel free to contact Sue Staas - (610) 933-9766, or Margy Crawford - (610) 415-9678.
Rick Reis
Horses Help The Economy And Open Space!
"Pennsylvania's equine industry continues to grow and have a positive impact on the Commonwealth," reports Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C. Wolfe, on a Penn State survey of the state's equine industry.
It is a diverse, broad-based activity, ranging from racetrack owners and Olympic riders to large numbers of recreational and show horse riders, small acreage owners, and moderate and low income facilities.
There are currently 216,000 horses across our state. Equine owners devote 1.14 million acres of land in Pennsylvania for equine purposes. Although Lancaster County has the largest equine population, with 20,396, Chester County places second with 15,504!
Horses are a huge force in Pennsylvania's culture and economy, and this study suggests that the state's thriving equine industry can help enhance the quality of life for future generations (by keeping the land open). More horses mean a stronger demand for production agriculture.
Pennsylvania's equine economy is bigger than Kentucky's and larger than any other state. It thrives with little attention from the public, and compared to other agricultural entities, little government assistance, and yet the equine industry is vital to economic development, farmland preservation and enhanced quality of life for all of us.
Horses are also utilized to educate youth and students about the responsibility of caring for a living creature. The well being of children, youth and families is essential to the well-being of our society, now and in the future, providing for a strong workforce and vital community.
Marcia Solda
Charlestown Township
Open Space Commission
P.O. Box 507
Devault, PA 19432
Open Space Commission Members:
Contact Information
Andy Motel - Chair
Bob Jones - Vice Chair
Sue Staas - Secretary
Bob Roggio - Financial Officer
Bill Andersen
Alix Coleman
Frank Corcoran
Aliena Gerhard
Mary Ellen Joos
Kevin Kuhn
Rosemary Philips
Marcia Solda
To contact any member of the Open Space Comission call the Township Office at 610-240-0326.
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