Is the Struble Trail Another Victim of NIMBYism?

The Chester County Department of Community Development has just announced its annual grants. Unfortunately the much-anticipated extension of the Struble Trails from its current terminus at Norwood Road along the former rail line to Pennsylvania Avenue did not receive funding - despite all the positive indications previously.

The Stuble Trail is a terrific asset to Downingtown and the surrounding area. The extension of the trail would have had a covered bike shelter at Pennsylvania Avenue where hikers and bikers could park and walk to into town and enjoy the restaurants, cafes and shops there. In addition the extension would have been a key link in the greater Chester Valley trail system that the County has been planning for years.

Nearly everyone supported the extension of the Struble Trail with two notable exceptions.

In a April 27^th article in the Daily Local News reporting on the Council vote to enter into the lease agreement with PECO for the trail extension area, it was reported that Kim Manufacturing opposed having the trail go behind its building, in part, because it felt it had ownership rights to a portion of the trail easement area land.

Councilwoman Ann Feldman voiced the only other dissenting point of view saying, “If the development doesn’t go through, you wouldn’t want the trail.”

Mayor Josh Maxwell convinced Ms. Feldman to vote for the easement purchase by explaining, “Even if the development doesn’t go through, we could use the trail to create a loop (with Lion’s Trail)”.

If the proposal to clean up Kardon Park to construct housing on less than half the land had not been opposed by a small group of NIMBY citizens, this proposed section of the Struble Trail would be connected to a wonderful network of improved and new trails and trail parking within the remediated and undeveloped 22-acres of Kardon Park.

Both opponents of the Struble Trail extension are also the opponents of the Kardon Park redevelopment project. Did their public opposition have anything to do with the County’s denying the Borough this grant when these grants are so competitive and dependent on unified public support? You be the one to decide. Regardless, the residents of the Downingtown area have been denied a wonderful resource for walking dogs, strolling with children, biking into the Borough for lunch or just getting fit on your lunch hour or weekends.

This is another blow for those who believe Downingtown can be an even better town if we believe change can be for the better.

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You can read the entire article on the Struble Trail extension at http://dailylocal.com/articles/2010/04/27/news/srv0000008134738.prt