Natural Lands, a conservation organization, announced that Chester Heights Borough has been able to purchase a tract of land at Valleybrook and Smithbridge Roads for $3.4 million. Fred Wood, a former mayor of the borough, was instrumental in pursuing the 40-acre parcel for community use. Fundraising included private donations and a nearly $1.9 million federal grant. Officials involved in the deal said that, in addition to providing new public green space, the property will slow and absorb stormwater, helping to reduce flooding. The property will also filter runoff before it enters Chester Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River. The property will be the largest parcel of open public space in the borough.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/28/2025