Pictured are some of nature's most spectacular fireworks: The Aurora Borealis over the Kirkjufell Mountains in Iceland. 

Happy New Year, Willistown Parks & Recreation Friends!

We're off to a great start to 2022 with the following Breaking Good News: 

• Willistown Summer Fun Camps are back and registration is open

• Over 12 acres added to Willistown Conservation Trust's Kirkwood Preserve thanks to another successful partnership between Willistown Township and WCT 

• Inaugural Winter Wonderlands Parks & Rec Photo Contest

• Okehocking Weed Warriors...now is the time to tackle those vines! 

Please scroll along to find out more, and, as always, contact me with suggestions or to report a concern. 

Hope to see you outside soon,

Mary

Email 
Willistown Township Parks & Recreation Director
610-647-5300 x224  

WILLISTOWN SUMMER FUN CAMPS ROCK! 
Registration Now Open

Willistown Township's Summer Fun Camps for grades K-5 are back! Located at Sugartown Elementary School and hosted by Jump Start Sports, there are 8 fun-filled weeks starting June 20 through August 12, 2022. Residents and non-residents can register for individual weeks or all 8 weeks. We offer full and half-day options plus before and after care with themes that change every week. View the camp flier, find more information on our Willistown Camp page, or go directly to registration here.

WILLISTOWN TOWNSHIP & WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 
Kirkwood Preserve Addition

Willistown Township and Willistown Conservation Trust continue their public/private partnership to protect lands for open space and recreation by adding over 12 acres to Kirkwood Preserve. Owned by the Trust, Kirkwood Preserve is 83 acres of rolling hills with the main stem of Crum Creek meandering through Willistown at 855 Grubbs Mill Road, Newtown Square.

The Willistown Township Open Space Fund was utilized in the initial acquisition of Kirkwood Preserve and leveraged to Chester County and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources funding. Leveraging Open Space funds in the same manner, the partnership reconvened for the latest acquisition which will add over three-quarters of a mile of trails and 12.42 acres of critical riparian buffer, woodland, and grasslands to the existing preserve.

The Township is also working with the Trust on access improvements including expanding the parking area and installing stepping stones across the creek. Stay tuned for more details about when the new lands will be open to the public this spring and the grand opening celebration this fall. Feel free to contact Mary, Willistown's Director of Parks and Recreation, with any questions. 

WINTER WONDERLAND PHOTO CONTEST
Share your Willistown winter fun with everyone!

When the plants in our parks go dormant and most animals take shelter, our park visitors become the active ones. Parks & Recreation Board Member, Grace Frain, and her family are known to get outside throughout all seasons. Last winter was no different. Here, Wade is bundled up and happy as a clam at Kirkwood Preserve.

Photographers ages 5 and up may submit photos of their winter park adventures or of natures beauty beginning January 10 through February 28, 2022. Take your phone or camera with you to the park, preserve, or trail and snap stills of your winter adventures in Willistown. Before you head out, be sure to visit our Willistown Winter Wonderland webpage, view the contest rules, or head to the entry form.

OKEHOCKING WEED WARRIORS
Join in the fresh air fun battling the bad guys!

If you are looking for fresh air and exercise this winter, please join us to help fight the invasive species that threaten the overall health of the Preserve and encroach on trails. After the leaves fall is a perfect time to tackle non-native plants and vines. Please email Mary and the team if you are interested in pitching in. Find out more about invasive plants from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 

WILLISTOWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

STAY INFORMED

Visit the Comprehensive Plan Update page to see the project kickoff presentations and all things Comprehensive Plan. Sign up for Comprehensive Plan Update Bulletins here.

HEAD OUTDOORS

WHERE TO GO to GET OUTSIDE

• Check out our  Willistown Township Park Land and Open Space Fund Map, an at-a-glance view including short descriptions of the wonderful recreational assets Willistown has to offer. 

• Check out Chester County's Parks & Trails 

• Get the dirt on the best trail navigation and exploration mobile map applications here.

• Locate PA state parks through PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resource and their Find a Park by Region service.

• Scroll down for quick links to our award-winning GO WilMa! The Adventure Continues outdoor adventure program. It's easy to register and is free.

TOWNSHIP NEWS

BE IN THE KNOW!

The Willistown Township website has loads of info & news about your township!

Township Email Notification System: Register through Notify Me