June 2025

As we welcome the arrival of June, the anticipation for the upcoming summer season is truly exciting. Here in West Pikeland Township, the longer days and warmer weather offer so many opportunities to get outside and enjoy our beautiful community.

Whether it's spending time in our local parks, taking advantage of outdoor activities, or simply relaxing and soaking up the sunshine, we hope everyone has a chance to make the most of the summer months. Let's look forward to a season filled with enjoyable moments and the chance to connect with neighbors and friends.

Roadway Safety Reminder: Maintain Vegetation on Your Property 

As we move into the lush summer months, vegetation growth around our properties tends to accelerate. While trees, brush, and vines add beauty and privacy to our surroundings, it’s important to remain aware of how this growth can impact the safety of our shared roadways.

Overhanging branches, encroaching shrubs, and spreading vines can obstruct drivers’ views, block signage, narrow travel lanes, and even create hazards for pedestrians and cyclists. These issues can compromise the safety of everyone who uses our roads—including emergency vehicles that may require clear and full access.

To ensure our roadways remain safe and accessible for all, we kindly remind all residents to regularly inspect their property lines and trim back any vegetation that extends into the public right-of-way. This includes maintaining clear sightlines at driveways and intersections, and ensuring sidewalks and road shoulders are free from obstruction.

By working together, we can help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for all members of our community.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and kindly ask that you take any necessary action to address potential safety concerns as soon as possible.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our roads safe!

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS

Sustainable Saturdays

The Environmental Advisory Council is pleased to have presented four Sustainable Saturday events in 2024 and one so far this year. These events were designed to foster neighbor-to-neighbor advice on various sustainable topics within our community.

As a reminder, Sustainable Saturdays offer a unique opportunity to learn directly from your neighbors about their experiences with sustainable practices. For instance, past events have included discussions and visits to homes with solar and battery systems, as well as guidance on creating plant or vegetable gardens. This peer-to-peer approach aims to provide valuable insights beyond what might be offered by salespeople or contractors.

You may recall receiving a postcard in early Spring that listed upcoming township events, including the subjects for the two remaining Sustainable Saturdays this year. We encourage you to check that postcard for details on these events.

Looking ahead, we would love to hear your ideas for future Sustainable Saturday topics. If there is a specific area of sustainability you are interested in learning more about, please feel free to email Mike Leader at mikeleader_2@yahoo.com with your suggestions.

We hope you will continue to engage with the Sustainable Saturday program and benefit from the shared knowledge within our community.

INVASIVE SPECIES

Invasive species are plants, animals, or other organisms that are introduced to an area outside of their original habitat and can cause damage in their new area. Because they have no natural enemies, they usually spread rampantly, creating harm to our economy, environment and health. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture estimates that the cost to control invasive species and the damage they inflict is 137 billion dollars annually.

The PA Dept. of Agriculture has identified more than 140 invasive species that are emerging threats to Pennsylvania plants and animals. Some of the best known are: Garlic Mustard, Japanese Stiltgrass, Bradford Pear, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle Vine and Bush, Oriental Bittersweet, Autumn Olive, Burning Bush, Mile-a-Minute Vine, Privet, Chestnut Blight, Dutch Elm Disease, Lantern Fly and the Gypsy Moth. Currently the Emerald Ash Borer is killing most of our native Ash trees.

Many of these species are currently taking over different areas of our Pine Creek Park. During the next several years our West Pikeland Township EAC (Environmental Advisory Council) and Parks and Recreation committees will be working together to remove existing invasive species starting with the worst and most obvious areas. After their removal they may be replaced with native trees and shrubs that will make our park more visibly attractive and help support wildlife like birds, butterflies and other native pollinators.

With the help of our volunteers, we recently tackled two areas at the park. These areas are located on the left side of the track and on the right side of the recent tree plantings next to the playground.

If any person or organization would like to volunteer in this endeavor or if any Scout is looking for a project, please contact our township office.

WHAT CAN YOU DO

1. Avoid buying and planting invasive plants. Be selective and research your plants to ensure you select native/or non-invasive plants for your landscape. The PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources web site has a link to information and photos of invasive trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and herbaceous plants.

2. Identify existing invasive plants on your property, woodlot, or meadow and take action to remove them.

3. Where invasive plants are removed, replant with native plants or seeds as soon as possible. 

HISTORIC YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS

Jazz at the Springs

June 1, 2025

3 pm – 5 pm

Historic Yellow Springs Jazz at the Springs is coming soon!! Founded in 1998, this annual free, outdoor music festival will be on the first Sunday in June from 3 to 5:30 pm in the field behind the Chester Springs Studio on the campus of Historic Yellow Springs. Parking is in the field adjacent and also at the Washington Building- follow the signs! Bring lawn chairs, your family and enjoy a fantastic afternoon of Jazz at the Springs! Food and beverages available for purchase.



The Studios at Historic Yellow Springs will be having a kiln firing during the Jazz and studio artwork will be for sale. This is a rain or shine event with no rain date. Jazz at the Springs is free and hosted by Historic Yellow Springs every year on the first Sunday of June. Your donations during the event will benefit the many projects to protect and preserve this local historical gem.

Yellow Springs Art Camp

Historic Yellow Springs is excited to announce that summer camp registration is now live! This year, we are offering morning, afternoon and all-day camp. Campers who sign up for all day sessions will participate in weekly yoga sessions with Amanda from Powerful Child. Welcome to Children from ages 6-12, Monday - Friday starting July 7th. Designed for young artists, this camp will immerse participants in a variety of artistic activities, including fine arts and Ceramics. We will explore the natural world around us and through the lens of unique weekly themes. Whether they're beginners or budding artists, our camp provides a fun, supportive environment for exploration and skill-building. With a mix of individual projects and group activities, every child will leave with a collection of their own artwork and lasting memories. Sign up today! 

 https://yellowsprings.org/youth-camps/ 

Upcoming Events at the Mill at Anselma

There’s always something to experience at the Mill at Anselma! Don’t miss our Demo Days every second Saturday of the month from April through December, 10 AM to 4 PM. On Demo Days, we bring the Mill to life—watch the waterwheel in motion and see the historic machinery turn grain into flour, just as it did centuries ago.

We also offer guided walking tours every Saturday (10 AM–4 PM) and Sunday (1–4 PM) so you can explore the Mill’s rich history at your own pace.

Looking for a peaceful escape? Our scenic trails are open daily from dawn to dusk—perfect for a stroll through nature and a glimpse into the past.

Discover the stories of the past while enjoying the peaceful beauty of the Mill’s grounds.

PINE CREEK PARK PLAYGROUND FUNDRAISER

Help Us Build a Playground for Our Children's Future

We have some exciting updates regarding the Pine Creek Park playground!

We are now eligible for a matching grant opportunity! Our new grant request was submitted a few weeks ago and, if awarded, will effectively double the funds we have already raised.

This significant increase in funding will allow us to hire a professional playground designer. A professional designer will be able to create a playground that

* Provides a configuration that complements the natural park surroundings.

* Includes distinct play areas tailored for both toddlers and older children.

* Integrates STEM-focused activities.

* Features areas that are ADA accessible and multigenerational.

* Incorporates essential elements like shading, landscaping, and benches.

The announcement regarding the grant award is expected in mid-November. This timeline means that the start of construction will be delayed by a few months. We understand that this is a longer process than initially anticipated, but we firmly believe the enhanced playground we will be able to create will be well worth the wait

We sincerely thank you for your continued patience and deeply value your ongoing support.

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Here's how you can help:

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Donate $50,000 and receive naming rights for the playground

Donate $10,000 for a personalized bench next to the playground

Donate $500 and have your name placed on our donor board

Donate any amount you are comfortable donating

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Donations are tax deductible and will remain in a separate “playground account” at West Pikeland Township; the funds will be used solely for playground renovation and development.

Upcoming meeting information, including agendas, can be found on our website.

Summer at Chester Springs Library

Although we’re not able to invite you to the library this summer, there will still be lots of opportunities to enjoy our programs in the community. And we are still offering a Summer Reading program for all ages.

This year’s theme is Color Our World. Log your reading with BEANSTACK online, click HERE to make your account. Adults can register and add family members to keep logging everyone’s reading easy. Or, if you choose to use our paper system, download adult review forms and kids/teens logging coupons from our website beginning June 14. They will also be available at our programs.

Can you donate a gift card or single use event pass for the Summer Reading Prize Drawing? Everyone is so generous each year in donating prizes, but this year we are asking for gift cards, event passes, or something similar since we will not be back in our library building. Thank you!   

Check out our online calendar for our events, including the Summer in the Park Series offered at Pine Creek Park. Brought to you by the West Pikeland Township Parks and Recreation Committee and Chester Springs Library.

Reading magazines counts too. Browse our new collection of online magazines available through the Libby app or read in your browser straight from the Overdrive catalog.

Chester Springs Library is located at 1709 Art School Road, in West Pikeland Township 

www.chesterspringslibrary.org

610-827-9212

23^nd Annual French Creek Iron Tour - Sunday, June 8, 2025

The French Creek Iron Tour takes hundreds of beginner and experienced cyclists through the preserved lands of northern Chester County. The proceeds support critical conservation efforts taking place in our local communities - keeping our forests, fields, and creeks healthy for all.

More details about the Iron Tour, including rider registration and volunteer opportunities, can be found on our website here.