MAY 2024

WEST PIKELAND TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE CLOSED

MAY 27, 2024

The administrative office will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024 in honor of Memorial Day.

SOLAR ECLIPSE EVENT AT PINE CREEK PARK A SUCCESS!

Thank you to the Chester Springs Library for hosting the Solar Eclipse Watch Party on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Pine Creek Park. The clouds parted just enough for township residents to experience the partial eclipse, as well as enjoy the playground, sand box and games.

TOWNSHIP LAUNCHES "DID YOU KNOW" CAMPAIGN

The West Pikeland Township Board of Supervisors is launching a multi-step campaign series aimed at providing township residents with a clearer understanding of their annual property tax bills. Recognizing the importance of transparency and community engagement, the initiative seeks to demystify the complex components of Property Taxes: School, County and Township. The campaign series will also explain township expenses and where your tax dollars go.

Residents can expect to receive three postcards between now and September. Additionally, this page will be updated for each informational phase, so check back often!

 The first phase of the Did You Know Campaign will explain the different types of property taxes township residents receive. It will also explain township expenses. You can view the 2024 West Pikeland Township budget here

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The second phase of the Did You Know Campaign will provide a comparison between our township and neighboring townships regarding services provided and millage rates. It will also explain what the future of our township looks like with the current tax millage of .5. Public comment will be available on this page and by email.

The third phase of the Did You Know Campaign will share the public comments the Township has collected and what we have heard from residents. It will also discuss how any proposed changes, if any, will affect residents.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE HERE >

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

West Pikeland Township is currently seeking township residents to volunteer for the following positions:

Zoning Hearing Board

Open Space Advisory Committee - Contact Lisa Lacroix for more information

West Pikeland Land Trust - Contact Mike Minnich for more information

No experience required, just a willingness to provide a lending hand in our township. Interested? Fill out our Volunteer Form and we will be in touch!

YOGA IN THE PARK - MAY 4 THROUGH JUNE 8 AT 9AM

Yoga in the Park is back! Join us at Pine Creek Park next to the lower Pavilion for free yoga sessions every Saturday at 9am, May 4th through June 8th.

Bring your own mat and water bottle.

Sponsored by the West Pikeland Township Parks & Rec Committee and the Chester Springs Library.

CAYDEN'S CORNER SANDBOX @ Pine Creek Park

Park Rules Reminder

On December 16, 2023, the township opened a sand play area at Pine Creek Park in memory of Cayden Leithead, son of township residents Ryan and Denise Leithead. Cayden passed away a week after he was born in December 2022.

The Parks and Recreation Committee would like to remind park visitors to follow the above rules when using the sandbox. It is a valuable resource for our community and should be preserved for the public's use. Please be mindful of these rules so all can enjoy the play area.

DOWNINGTOWN AREA RECREATION CONSORTIUM (DARC) NEWS

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS

REDUCING THE SIZE OF YOUR MOWED LAWN

It’s spring…time to tune up your mowers and cut your lawn. Before you make a decision to mow the same area you mowed last year, our EAC (Environmental Advisory Council) would like you to take a moment to consider some alternatives that could make some environmental and economic changes.

Maintaining lawns often requires the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides to kill weeds. When it rains these chemicals end up in the ground water we drink or in our streams where it affects the aquatic life that lives there. Mowing, weed whacking and edging uses gasoline which contributes to greenhouse gases that drive climate change.

We are not declaring war on lawns, but we want our residents to think about unused areas that could be mowed once per year in early spring, mowed less often, converted to meadows, or planted with native trees, shrubs, or pollinator flowers. This area could be as large or small as you desire.

As a result of your actions, you will be providing food and shelter for birds, insects, and other wildlife, and your lawn will be more visually appealing, diverse and sustainable. In addition you might also save some money.

To learn more, please check out the following articles:

How to Get Rid of Your Lawn

No Mow Lawn Seeding Instructions

More Sustainable Alternatives to Grass

Green Lawns are an Ecological Catastrophe

Audubon Native Plants Directory

Sustainable Saturdays

Join the Environmental Advisory Council as they present an ongoing event series, Sustainable Saturdays, April through September 2024. At these events, township residents can learn about sustainable systems for their homes by attending several speaker series at either the township building or the Chester Springs Library. In addition, attendees will be able to visit various West Pikeland Township resident’s homes for demonstrations of sustainable systems. This series will occur throughout the summer as residents and experts share their knowledge on creating a sustainable home. Sponsored by the EAC and Chester Springs Library

June 22 @ 10:30am

Join us at the Chester Springs Library (1709 Art School Road, Chester Springs) to learn more about installing a Geothermal Heat Pump System at your home

July 20 @ 10:30am

Join us at the Chester Springs Library (1709 Art School Road, Chester Springs) to learn more about installing Rain Gardens and Native Plantings at your home

September 21 @ 10:30am



Join us at the Chester Springs Library (1709 Art School Road, Chester Springs) to learn more about installing a solar and battery backup system in your home

Mark your calendars for informative and money savings ideas to make your house more energy efficient and your property more sustainable. The Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) has set up a program called Sustainable Saturdays to assist residents in moving forward with the energy efficiency and green objectives they have.

Sustainable Saturdays through the summer will highlight what some Township residents have done to reduce their energy consumption and save money. The residents will give an introductory talk at the Chester Springs Library and then take the group to their home to see the ideas and systems in practice.

Meeting information, including agendas, can be found on our website

Chester Springs Library May Newsletter

By: Susie Hawkins

We’re only a month away from the most wonderful time of the year – Summer Reading! We hope you’re as excited as we are about all the fun events and awesome prizes! But don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about May! We have plenty of exciting things happening this month.

Here are some highlights:

Every Saturday @ 9-10am: Yoga at Pine Creek Park - Bring your water bottle and mat and enjoy FREE yoga in the park. 1488 Yellow Springs Road. For adults. No registration.

May 6 @ 10:30-11am: Story Time with a State Trooper - Join us for a special story time with Corporal MacIntyre to learn about what it means to be a state trooper. No registration.

May 6-10 All Day: Make a Mother’s Day Card - Stop by and make a card for your mom or someone like a mom to you! All ages welcome.

May 8-12 All Day: Pop-up Book Sale - Treat your shelf and find some books to take home from our Pop-up Book Sale. All proceeds go towards our Summer Reading Program.

May 12 @ 10am-12pm: Art Around the Village - Spend Mother’s Day at Historic Yellow Springs! Don’t forget to stop by the library to browse our Pop-up Book Sale and try out Gelli Printing, a craft available to learn through CCLS’s database - Creativebug.

May 14 @ 10:30-11:15am: My Grown-Up and Me: Paint and Plant – Caregivers and children are invited to paint a flower pot and plant a seedling of their choice. Hosted by the Uwchlan Garden Club. Recommended for 6 & Under. Register here.

May 23 @ 10:30-11am: Story Time w/ Main Line Animal Rescue - Join us for a special story time with a volunteer from MLAR. Learn about animal safety and meet one of their furry friends! No registration.

Have you checked out our Seed Library? We still have plenty of seeds available! Stop by and pick some out just in time for planting season.



After Memorial Day, we’ll be taking a break from our regular events until the beginning of Summer Reading on June 8. However, we’ll still have Play Dough Morning and Knit and Crochet Group on Thursdays. To view our whole calendar of events (and take a peek at our summer programs), check out our online calendar here.

The Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports is organizing its 12th Annual Cinco de Mayo Benefit Bike Ride and Walk.

This event involves about 100 cyclists traveling through our township between 8 AM and 12 N on Sunday, May 5, 2024