Bryn Coed Farms effort nears deadline

Funds being raised to create publicly accessible nature preserve at Chester Springs property

As the end of the year draws near, a deadline approaches for the effort to raise funds to create a publicly accessible nature preserve at the Bryn Coed Farms property in Chester Springs.

The Natural Lands organization, which signed an ownership agreement in June for the 1,505-acre property in the heart of northern Chester County, is committed to raising $5 million by Dec. 31 to complete the purchase and establish a 500-acre preserve within its boundaries in West Vincent, East Pikeland and West Pikeland.

The organization’s leader said this week that it is still short of its goal by about $250,000.

“More than 600 households have shown their support for this project by making a gift to the campaign for Bryn Coed Farms, and some have made a second gift – all of which have brought us within striking distance of our $5 million goal,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands.

“To my mind, this outpouring of support speaks to the importance of open space and nature in the lives of Chester County’s citizens,” she said in a statement. “But we’ve pledged to end the campaign on Dec. 31 so that we can move ahead with making important decisions regarding what we still hope will be a new 500-acre preserve with about 10 miles of safe, off-road trails.

“We are only $247,000 short of our goal, so we’re hopeful the community will dig deep these last few days of the year,” said Morrison. “We’ll get there, friend by friend, neighbor by neighbor, and gift by gift.”

The historic, environmentally significant, and much cherished Bryn Coed Farms property sits among the rolling hills and stream vistas along scenic St. Matthews Road.

In June, Natural Lands announced an agreement of sale for the property, once owned by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts and most recently to heirs of the Ludens Cough Drop fortune. At the time, the organization said that a 500acre preserve there would open to the public, featuring hiking, equestrian, and recreational trails. Although the campaign fell short of the goal of raising $5 million from individual donors, officials said it would continue through the year to raise the final $750,000.

A total of $4.2 million was raised by June 1, with nearly 500 households contributing amounts from $5 to $500,000, the organization said at the time. The effort was bolstered by a challenge grant from the William Penn Foundation for $2 million it would match if the campaign raised a similar amount. The community campaign raised more than $2.2 million, Morrison said.

The remainder of the 1,505 acres will be protected via a series of 40 lots of various sizes with conservation easements that will be sold to private buyers.

Contributions to the Campaign for Bryn Coed Farms can be made at bryncoedfarms.org/give.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A deadline is approaching for the effort to raise funds to create a publicly accessible nature preserve at Bryn Coed, a 1,500-acre farm in Chester Springs.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A deadline is approaching for the effort to raise funds to create a publicly accessible nature preserve at Bryn Coed, a 1500-acre farm in Chester Springs.