Natural Landscape

For many, Chester County is defined by its open space: a landscape of winding creeks, woodlands, meadows, and wildlife. Whether enjoying it through the windshield of your car, hiking along a trail, sauntering a park, or simply reveling in its beauty, the natural landscape, open space, and parks exemplify the character of Chester County.

There are many entities that preserve the landscape we enjoy as well as different organizations that provide places and opportunities to interact with nature. The municipalities of Chester County all maintain public parkland. Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources preserves state parks, including Marsh Creek and French Creek. The state's Game Land Commission also preserves acreage throughout the County; Non-profit organizations such as Natural Lands, the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, and the Brandywine Conservancy, as well as watershed and municipal trusts also preserve land and open space. Whether public or private, every organization plays a role in preserving the natural environment.

The County's Parks + Preservation department preserves thousands of acres of open space, preserving watersheds and woodlands, sharing stories in the landscape, and providing facilities for recreation and connection. The department's roots date back to 1958 with the creation of the Chester County Parks and Recreation Board. The first lands for parks were purchased in 1962, leading to the creation of Nottingham County Park in 1963. Hibernia County Park was dedicated in 1964 and Warwick County Park followed in 1973. The department also focused on the creation of trails with the first quarter mile of the Chester Valley Trail opening in 2000. A reorganization of the county departments took place in 2019. The current department was created with the merging of parks and Chester County Open Space. Today, the department manages over 35,000 acres of park land and 25 miles of trails.