Brandywine Conservancy effort would protect, highlight resources along creek corridor
By Nicole Brown, Correspondent, UnionvilleTimes.com
The Brandywine Creek Greenway project would impact four local municipalities: Pocopson, Birmingham, Pennsbury and Chadds Ford.
BIRMINGHAM — The township’s Board of Supervisors agreed to support the Brandywine Creek Greenway Plan at the township meeting on Monday night.
The Brandywine Creek Greenway (BCG) is “a 30-mile long green corridor of varying width, stretching from the Delaware state line at Chadds Ford to the state-designated Pennsylvania Highlands Mega-Greenway in the north,” according to the Brandywine Conservancy website (http://www.brandywineconservancy.org/greenway/). The website also explains that the plan is a two-year effort, that will better protect the BCG “from development pressures, degraded landscapes restored, and the greenway’s unique recreational and tourism potential realized.”
County officials asked Birmingham, along with 15 other municipalities, for support of the plan. Supervisor William Kirkpatrick voiced his concern that the county “continues to spend money on studies,” noting that it will be interesting to see what the organization actually does.
Supervisors Al Bush and John Conklin agreed with Kirkpatrick; however, Conklin pointed out that the township does not have to pay anything to support the plan. All three agreed that although the plan’s ultimate effects are vague, they would send a letter of support.
The supervisors addressed three other topics at the meeting as well. They approved the recognition of Unionville High School Senior Kelsey Walden for completing her Girl Scout Gold Award, and will send an official certificate of achievement.
They authorized the advertisement of the updated pension plan with Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System. The change will be reviewed and considered by the board at the township meeting on April 2.
Finally, Kirkpatrick announced that the repairs on the township’s wastewater treatment plant will cost $3,589.25. Although this repair is not specifically in the budget, it falls under the budget for maintenance. Conklin and Bush approved the proposal to make the repairs.
