Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County Comments
January 17, 2022 Legislative Reapportionment Committee North Office Building Via upload only to website at: Harrisburg, PA https//www.redistricting.state.pa.us/comment/ RE: PENNSYLVANIA REDISTRICTING Dear Commission Members: The Supervisors of Chadds Ford Township strongly support an alignment that will keep the municipality in a legislative district in Delaware County. Over the years, there has been some confusion as to Chadds Ford’s inclusion in Delaware County, however, for the reasons stated below, it is important to reinforce that fact as opposed to causing more confusion by realigning the municipality in a Chester County district. Close working relationships with County agencies familiar with the Township should be a priority in determining inclusion in a legislative district, as opposed to a school district. The Chadds Ford area is closely aligned to many integral services provided by Delaware County, the most notable being Delaware County Emergency Services. Last September, State Representative Williams and his staff coordinated assistance between the municipality and the county/FEMA/PEMA/SBA during the Hurricane Ida disaster. Additionally, Chadds Ford is actively partnering with Delaware County Planning Department on the Octoraro Trail, a county wide trail system. The western Delaware County segment is in the design phase, with a concept plan expected soon. Economic impact is another significant matter. Chadds Ford acts as the western gateway to Delaware County, a boundary clearly marked by the Brandywine Creek, an area commonly known as the “Chadds Ford Village,” a National Historic District. Home to the Brandywine River Museum and Brandywine Battlefield State Park, the Village is perhaps one of Delaware County’s most popular tourist destinations. Chadds Ford has received $600,000 in grant funding from Delaware County’s Greenways program for the Walkable Chadds Ford Multimodal Trail project that will facilitate pedestrian and bicycling access in the Village. We see this financial support as a clear sign that the County considers the area of major import. Supervisors strongly support an alignment of legislative districts that keeps Chadds Ford Township in Delaware County. The relationship with our Delaware County State Representative is a quintessential link to coordinating services with Delaware County government, a priority over being in a legislative district with the largely-Chester County school district. Thank you for your consideration of the above in making a final determination of legislative district boundaries. Very truly yours, /s/ Samantha Reiner, Chair, for the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors cc: Honorable Craig Williams, State Representative Noelle M. Barbone, Vice Chair Frank G. Murphy, Supervisor Maryann Furlong, Township Manager