Patriots Path

The Patriots Path is a proposed trail network in East Whiteland Township, Malvern Borough and Tredyffrin Township that will connect area historic sites with American Revolutionary War significance via the Chester Valley Trail. With the assistance of Chester County and a professional consultant, the three municipalities have developed a draft plan and study for the Patriots Path. The goal is to adopt a plan that will amend the 2009 Comprehensive Plan to include the Patriots Path plan.

There are two segments to the Patriots Path within Tredyffrin Township:

• The Valley Forge Segment: a 1.8 mile connection from the Chester Valley Trail to the Valley Forge National Historical Park in Tredyffrin Township
• The Cedar Hollow Segment: a 1.8 mile connection from the Chester Valley Trail to the Cedar Hollow Preserve and the Cool Valley Preserve via the Warner Spur Trail and then extending an additional mile westward into East Whiteland to connect with the Valley Creek Segment

In 2005, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Tredyffrin Township Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS Plan). When the Board adopted the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, the PROS Plan was included by reference, making it part of that plan.

The PROS Plan was adopted to be used by the community as a guide to identify and augment recreational facilities and opportunities within Tredyffrin and to plan for the improvement and expansion of such facilities to accommodate the needs and desires of the public for these types of public assets. Noting that the establishment of a connected trail network had been a priority in citizen surveys and previous recreation plans, the PROS Plan includes a discussion of the goal of locating a trail system within Tredyffrin and identifying priorities for the system. The Chester Valley Trail has provided the Township with a chance to act on those priorities through trail connections. The PROS Plan discussion identifies connections from the Chester Valley Trail via the two segments of the Patriots Path; the existence of public owned areas, roads, rights of way and open space along with the current in place improvements makes such connections possible. These two segments have been identified by the PROS Plan as part of the desired interconnected trail network; the Patriots Path Plan incorporates them into the a larger multi-municipal effort and gives them a name.

By the adoption of the Patriots Path Plan as a part of the Comprehensive Plan, Tredyffrin Township completes a vital step in making the trail network a reality. While it does not provide for engineering details, construction plans or a funding commitment it makes such subsequent steps possible, especially with regards to opportunities for funding for engineering, construction and maintenance from grant programs offered by Chester County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other public or quasi-governmental agencies. Without the presence of a duly adopted plan, such funding opportunities would be greatly limited. And as part of multi-municipal effort, the Patriots Path funding opportunities are increased.

The Planning Commission reviewed the draft Patriots Path Plan at their September and October public meetings, where comments from the public were collected as part of their review process. The consultants that developed the draft plan made a presentation at the Planning Commission's October 15 public meeting. The Planning Commission at the October 15 public meeting made a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to start the adoption process of the draft Patriots Path Plan. The Board of Supervisors adopted the Plan at the Feruary 22, 2010 public meeting with the revisions noted below.

September 2009 Drafts of the Patriot's Path Plan are available here:

• Section 1 - Overview and Physical Inventory (15.2 MB)
• Section 2 - Detailed Trail Recommendations (23.2 MB)
• Section 3 - Trail Implementation (6.55 MB)
• Section 4 - Appendices (4.77 MB)

Revisions to the Patriot's Path Plan adopted with the plan are highlighted on the following pdfs:

• Page 24 - Recommendations
• Page 37 - Recommendations
• Page 38 - Recommendations

September 2009 Drafts of the Patriots Path Plan Maps are available here:

• Map 1 - Patriots Path Overview (2.73 MB)
• Map 2 - Chester Valley Trail Overview (640 KBB)
• Map 3 - Chester Valley Trail Status (780 KB)
• Map 4 - Steep Slopes (976 KB)
• Map 5 - Woodlands & Natural Areas (980 KB)
• Map 6 - Water Features (976 KB)
• Map 7 - East Whiteland Township Park & Recreation Plan (404 KB)
• Map 8 - Tredyffrin Existing Recreation Sites & Preserved Open Spaces (980 KB)
• Map 9 - Malvern Existing Parks & Open Space (428 KB)

Map focusing on the Tredyffrin Township portions of the Patriot's Path (2.3 MB)

Hard copies of the plan can be viewed at the Township Administration Building, the Tredyffrin Public Library, and the Paoli Library. Those interested in purchasing a copy can pick one up at the Township Administration Building for $13.

For more information on Tredyffrin's park, recreation and open spaces go to our Park and Recreation page.