September 2023

Greenway Spotlight: Burgess Park Rain Garden

As the Brandywine Creek Greenway (BCG) encompasses more than 29 municipalities throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware, we would like to call attention to the noteworthy work that is continuously conducted throughout the watershed.

For our first spotlight, we're featuring Burgess Park Rain Garden in Wallace Township. Initially established as an Eagle Scout project in 2016, renovation of this rain garden was funded in part by the 2020 BCG Mini Grant program. With native plantings and a redesigned drainage system, this rain garden is spring fed and directs stormwater runoff underneath a historic rail trail into the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek, where the Burgess Park Trail continues into the Hannum Woods Trail. Visitors are invited to take a stroll along the serene trail systems stretching across the forested landscape throughout Wallace Township. Click here for a map of additional trails in the surrounding area and check back for updates to the trail network!

Throughout the year we will be supporting partnerships in this space. 

If you have projects, meetings, events, or surveys that you’d like us to spotlight in future newsletters, please email ideas for submission to ehadley@brandywine.org.

Brandywine Launches Flood Study

In response to more frequent and extreme flooding events impacting communities along the Brandywine Creek in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Brandywine Conservancy is excited to announce the launch of the Brandywine Flood Study—nearly two years after Hurricane Ida produced historic flooding that devastated the region. Conducted in partnership with the Chester County Water Resources Authority and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center, the study will examine flood reduction to the main stem of the Brandywine Creek from the headwaters in Honey Brook, PA, to Wilmington, DE and other key tributaries.

For more information about the Brandywine Flood Study, including progress updates and notifications about upcoming public meetings, sign up to join our email list. You can also contact us directly with any questions at floodstudy@brandywine.org. These resources and more will be available on our website, so please check back for updates as they are announced.

Brandywine Creek Greenway Mini-Grants Awarded

The Brandywine Conservancy is pleased to announce winners of the Brandywine Creek Greenway 2023-2024 Mini-Grant Program Round 3. This program is funded by a grant of $85,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnership Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The fourth round of applicants will be notified of award status by November 20, 2023.

Congratulations to the following awardees!

Caln Township

Design and Engineering for Beaver Creek Trail Segment 4 - $7,500 

East Bradford Township

BCG Water Trail signage for Shaw’s Bridge Canoe Launch - $5,000 

Kennett Area Park Authority

Ash Grove Forestry Project - $16,000 

West Caln Township

Layton Park stone wall restoration project - $7,500

Kennett Bike Fest

Brandywine Conservancy had the pleasure of participating in Kennett Bike Fest on Sunday, September 17 at The Creamery of Kennett Square. This event was a huge success with 180 bicycles and 150 helmets distributed to the community.

Brandywine Conservancy was thrilled to be included in this event, which encourages families to spend time outdoors together!

Monarch Migration Celebration

The Conservancy was grateful to be invited to the inaugural Monarch Migration Celebration at the DuPont Environmental Education Center (DEEC) in Wilmington, DE on Saturday, September 16.

The air was filled with music, honeybees and butterflies as families and visitors came to release newly hatched Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and learn more about local environmental organizations, educational programming, and the beautiful facilities at DEEC. The education center functions as a hub for walking, biking, and paddling trails through the adjacent Russell W. Peterson Wildlife Preserve along the popular Wilmington Riverfront along the Christina River. 

Join Us at the Unionville Community Fair

Come join the Brandywine Conservancy in celebration of the 99th Unionville Community Fair on October 13–15, 2023! Don't miss this weekend of fun for all ages, with events, displays, vendors, and competitions.

Visit their website to learn more!

Learn How to Convert Your Lawn to a Meadow

Interested in learning more about the long-term maintenance and benefits of converting your lawn into a meadow? On October 3, Christina Watersheds Municipal Partnership (CWMP) is hosting a Lawn to Meadows Workshop at Shadyside Park in West Bradford Township. This workshop is free to CWMP cost share partner municipalities and HOA’s, residents, and landscapers located in local municipalities listed here. All other residents and entities are welcome for a fee of $20.

This three-hour workshop includes lunch and covers all the details of converting a lawn to a meadow using the recently-installed meadow at Shadyside Park as an example. Registration is open until October 2 and is limited to 50 attendees. Click here to learn more and register!

The Brandywine Conservancy is proud to be a member of the CWMP Planning Team!

All Partners Annual Meeting

On October 17, join Brandywine Conservancy staff and fellow partners from the Brandywine Creek Greenway for a relaxing dinner and to learn more about the exciting projects our partners are implementing throughout the region. An opportunity to share partner project updates will be available after dinner, but we encourage our partners to display projects in a poster format during the cocktail hour. Conservancy staff will provide an overview of our ongoing work and give our partners an opportunity to highlight their accomplishments within the Greenway region.

We look forward to connecting with you and learning of the work you are all doing to make the Brandywine Creek Greenway a success. Click here to learn more and register!

Introducing Brandywine Conservancy's New Lead Planner

Please join us in welcoming Beth Burns as our new Lead Planner in the Brandywine Conservancy's Municipal Assistance Program! Prior to joining the Conservancy, Beth was a Project Manager for the National Park Service at the Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, MD. She also serves as a Commissioner of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. In her role at NPS, she specialized in the management of design and construction of historic preservation projects across the country. At Brandywine, in addition to municipal planning projects, she will also support Easement Stewardship staff with monitoring and stewarding our portfolio of façade easements, as well as assisting with the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force.

Beth has a passion for our work and her broad view and experiences on other planning principles align well with the Conservancy’s layered approach to our work. We're thrilled to have her as a member of our team!

IMAGE CREDITS

Header Image: Photo by William Hill

Flood Study: Photo by The Unionville Times

Mini-Grant Program: Photo by Alan Goodman

Unionville Community Fair: Photo by Unionville Community Fair

Lawn to Meadow Workshop: Photo by CWMP