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Gained Stable Funding Source for Open Space
Preservation |
Initiated and gained passage of the Open Space
Preservation earned income tax, which began in
2008. West Pikeland has now joined over half of
the municipalities in Chester County that
qualify for county, state, and possibly Federal
grants to support open space preservation.
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Developed Open
Space Project Selection Criteria |
Developed
comprehensive screening criteria and a ranking
system for prioritizing land to be funded for
open space preservation. The criteria include
factors such as size of parcel, current
vulnerability to development, proximity to parks
or other open space, special environmental
qualities or wildlife habitat, and stewardship
issues [see screening criteria]. |
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Mapped Land Use
in Township |
Identified and mapped all existing protected
land in the township and identified unprotected
land of ten acres or more currently at risk of
development [see maps]. |
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Initiated Land
Stewardship Plan |
Engaged
the services of a certified forester and land
management consultant to complete a
comprehensive long-term stewardship plan for the
approximately 350 acres owned by West Pikeland
Township. Goals of the project are to: (1)
document and control invasive species of plants
and vines that are taking over the woodland and
wetland areas; (2) create a schedule of
selective harvesting and replanting to maximize
the quality of the existing woodland; and (3)
protect stream corridors along the Pickering
Creek and its tributaries that border
township-owned land. The project is being
considered a model for improving land management
in other Pennsylvania townships.
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