June 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 40

CONSERVATION

The Greening Coatesville initiative is part of a larger citywide effort to stimulate investment in the
city. In 2017, the Chester County
Economic Development Foundation (CCEDF) and the Coatesville

Area Partners for Progress (CAPP)
completed a neighborhood revitalization strategy. The resulting
plan - called Coatesville Growing Greater - lays out five-year
action strategies to address issues

Patton Park
When the residents of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, gathered in 2016 to discuss their parks and their hopes for the future, they made it clear that
planning, while necessary, must be followed by action.
" Developing a five-year action plan for the city's parks was an essential first step and is serving as our road map, " says Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands, a regional land conservation organization. " But
we knew we needed to show the community tangible improvements to
keep up the momentum and enthusiasm. "
So, as the city's action plan was completed, Natural Lands joined forces
with PECO, the city of Coatesville, the nonprofit KaBOOM! and more than 200
community volunteers to build a new playground in Patton Park - in just
one day! The playground design was inspired by drawings made by local
children, who were asked to envision the playground of their dreams.
The playground project in Patton Park was the fifth that PECO has
made possible since 2007 across the company's service territory.
The new playground served as a catalyst for engaging the neighborhood and enlivening the park. Soon, the Friends of Patton Park formed
to help maintain the park and find ways to attract more activity. Last
fall, the group held a fall festival, featuring games, a cookout and movie night, with groups of
children running and
playing from morning
to night. Through its
efforts, the Coatesville
Little League renovated
a little-used baseball
field, and, this spring,
the joyful sounds of
T-ball and softball
games have returned.
Support for Greening
Coatesville has come
from American Water
Charitable Foundation,
Applestone Foundation, Areclor Mittal, Chester County, Chester County
Community Foundation, City of Coatesville, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, PECO, the Philadelphia Foundation, Stewart Huston Charitable
Trust, and the William Penn Foundation.

Parks & Recreation

| J U N E 2 0 1 8 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

of resident engagement, jobs and
economic opportunity, youth empowerment and community safety.
That Greening Coatesville and
Coatesville Growing Greater are
happening simultaneously is not an
accident. Community leaders recognize that improving the economy
and enhancing quality of life through
parks are complementary and essential. These two initiatives set the
stage in creating a culture of health
in Coatesville, where health equity is
becoming the norm as a shared value
across sectors and systems.
" The reawakening and renewal
of our city parks translate into regeneration of the lives of our families, " says Linda Lavender-Norris,
Coatesville City Council president.
" We will be forever grateful for the
relationship that we've established
with Natural Lands, which will last
throughout time. We extend these
same sentiments to the Brandywine Health Foundation and our
county government for investing in
our health and well-being. "
Every success will advance the
city's vision for the future. While
Palmer Park is just a small space,
its revitalization will make a world
of difference to the community and
will represent the winds of change
that are stirring for Coatesville.
Bookman agrees. " You might
think, does it matter to change one
little park? But, change one and who
knows where it leads! The good energy in Coatesville is snowballing. "
Kirsten Werner is the Director of
Communications, and Oliver Bass is the
Vice President of Communications and
Engagement for Natural Lands. Vanessa
Briggs is the President and CEO, and Jill
Whitcomb is the Vice President for
Development and Communication for
Brandywine Health Foundation.

June 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2018 - Parks & Recreation