Ever wonder when they are going to fix the tennis courts in Hoopes Park? That splash pad at John O’Green? Wish we had a frisbee golf course, pickleball courts, – a place to skate? Have ideas on how to improve the Turks Head Music Festival, the Halloween Parade – Restaurant Festival? Think your neighborhood park is being neglected – or wish we had more green space in general? Have thoughts, do you? 

Well, you’re in luck. Next year the Borough of West Chester begins work on a 10-year comprehensive plan for the entire Parks and Recreation Department and it’s all on the table. 

“It’s literally looking at our entire park system,” Parks Director Keith Kurowski said of the officially titled Parks, Recreation, & Open Space (PROS) Plan. “What are we lacking, what do the folks want, and how do we get there?” That’s 13 parks including activities, maintenance, and upkeep. Plus, all Borough events, land acquisition, and revenue strategies.  

“There are particular areas that could potentially be available for purchase by the Borough to expand our park system,” Keith said, noting that the community is currently underserved recreation space-wise in relation to population. “Coming out of the pandemic, we’ve seen how well used our parks are,” he said. Living across the street from Everhart Park I can attest to that. 

So what is Keith hoping to get out of this plan and how do you get a say? 

“Coming out of this I don’t want anyone to say they didn’t have the opportunity to provide feedback. This is their park. This is where they go with their kids to have fun. I want everyone to have input.”Keith Kurowski, West Chester Director of Parks and Recreation

The first part is pretty straightforward. “I want to develop a list of priority park improvements,” he said. A checklist of sorts of short-range, medium-range, and long-term plans. “It’s going to cause a lot more work for me but I’m excited,” Keith said about the long overdue endeavor.

While the Borough Comprehensive plan does briefly mention West Chester’s parks, the last entirely park-focused plan is a brief three-page analysis developed in 1986 and last revisited more than two decades ago.

“To say it is weak is an understatement,” said Keith. 

This time around the Borough has engaged with one of the area’s foremost experts on the topic Toole Recreation Planning a collaborative team under the engineering/architectural firm Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson. They have done significant work locally including developing a comprehensive plan for Westtown’s Oakbourne Park. 

“In plans like this they come really highly recommended,” said Keith.  

The consultants were selected from an RFP that yielded more than a dozen candidates. They began work earlier this year, familiarizing themselves with West Chester. They toured the parks, attended events, and chatted with residents but the real work begins next year with Phase 2.

For that, Keith is looking for resident help. He is in the process of assembling a 9-member steering committee which will include a representative each from the Borough Council, Planning Commission, Recreation Commission, and business community as well as five residents. Any five residents. 

Don’t have a degree in park management? Never sat on a board before? Doesn’t matter. 

“No prior experience needed,” said Keith. “It is open to anyone who is interested. Have a love of parks? We would love to have you give us a call.” 

The all-volunteer PROS committee will begin meetings in February and will work for a roughly 10-month period helping the consultants compile a final plan that will be presented to Borough Council late next year. The plan will include research, insights, and feedback from three planned community meetings and a resident outreach survey. 

“Coming out of this I don’t want anyone to say they didn’t have the opportunity to provide feedback,” said Keith. “This is their park. This is where they go with their kids to have fun. I want everyone to have input.”

He also wants to hit the ground running in 2025. The goal is to have three “low-hanging fruit” projects ready to go once the final plan is approved. 

“I do not want to come up with a plan that sits on a shelf,” he said. 

Interested in participating? Complete the brief survey and await a call from Keith. “I would love to have the opportunity to talk to 25- 30 people,” he said. 

I think we can make that happen. Applications are due by Dec. 29.

Originally published, Dec. 15, 2023

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This story is part of a longer weekly West Chester newsletter. Curious what else is going on? You can find the full issue here and the latest newsletter here. Even easier? Subscribe here to get future issues delivered directly to your inbox.