Chandler Mill Trail
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What’s changing?
The Chandler Mill Trail will connect the natural and built fabrics of our Kennett community. Residents will be able to safely connect to the beauty of the west branch of the Red Clay Creek, Chandler Mill Preserve and, eventually, to more than 1,500 acres of open space in southern Kennett Township. This trail will also connect local residents to the Borough’s amenities and events, whether it is a summer concert at Anson B Nixon Park or a game at the high school.
Envisioning your trail experience
The Chandler Mill trail has the potential to create special moments along the west branch of the Red Clay Creek for pedestrians and bicyclists of all generations. Whether it is a place to rest, have a picnic or play in nature, the consultants have proposed several different options along the route.
Thank you to those who responded to our latest survey, which closed November 1, 2021.
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Materials & amenities
The choices of materials for the Chandler Mill Trail are designed to embrace the natural esthetic of southern Chester County while simultaneously being durable in a floodplain. Ideally, materials will be locally sourced or come from raw materials on site.
Potential overlook designs
Two overlooks can offer opportunities to rest, play and enjoy nature’s beauty along the Chandler Mill Trail. These are optional amenities; several design options are below.
Overlook - 2A Wood belly w/ wood mega bench
Overlook - 2A Wood belly w/ picnic tables
Overlook - 2B Trapezoid w/ picnic tables, metal grating & boardwalk
Overlook - 2B Trapezoid w/ timber benches, metal grating & boardwalk
Overlook 1 - Stone terrace
Chandler Mill Trail, looking south, on one of the one lane, bidirectional traffic sections.
The traffic experience…
In order to accommodate the trail and calm traffic, two short sections of Chandler Mill Road will become one lane, but with bidirectional traffic (much like a one-lane bridge). This traffic pattern will accomplish two priorities highlighted by local residents in public meetings: (i) help reduce the speed of traffic and (ii) minimize disturbance to the creek.
Kennett Township has set up a temporary pilot study that allows drivers to experience this traffic pattern. The study will be removed after final engineering data is collected in mid-November 2021.
How will this impact the environment?
Our goal is to strengthen the community’s bond to the natural environment. Through selecting Biohabitats as its lead consultant, the Greenway wants the community to rediscover a sense of place through restoring indigenous ecosystems, improving biological diversity, and embracing ecological stewardship.
The trail’s engineering has focused on thoughtfully integrating a trail into the current creekside ecology. This includes addressing stormwater management using a planted buffer, careful material selection and adjusting the trail’s path around certain historical and natural assets. While 237 trees will be removed in construction, more than half of those trees are dead, dying, invasive or ash. In their place, the trail project will remove invasive underbrush and plant 295 native trees to restore healthy biodiversity along the creek. Together, we can restore and enjoy this treasure in southern Kennett Township.
Stay up to date
Kennett Township’s Trails & Sidewalks Committee public meetings includes monthly detailed updates on progress. Check out the public meeting schedule, agendas and recent minutes. You can also review the preliminary engineering plans below, but note that these plans are currently evolving as part of the final engineering process.
Special thanks to Biohabitats, Meliora Design, McMahon & Associates and Unknown Studio for their work on this project to date.