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Hiking, Trails, and Preserves

The combined open space preservation efforts of Willistown Township, Malvern Borough, the Natural Lands Trust, and Willistown Conservation Trust have played a significant role in protecting the water quality of the Upper and Middle Crum Creek.  In 2006, the 60 acre Kirkwood Preserve along Crum Creek in Willistown Township was purchased by Willistown Conservation Trust and opened to the public.  

Key preserves are:

• Randolph Woods and Ruthland Avenue Preserves (Malvern Borough)

• Paoli Battlefield (Malvern Borough)

• Willisbrook (Natural Lands Trust, Willistown Township)

• Hildacy Preserve (Natural Lands Trust)

• Green Bank Farm (Marple Township)

• Spring Road Preserve (Willistown)

• Kirkwood Preserve (Willistown Conservation Trust)

For more information on activities in these and other preserves, see Chester County’s Chester County Nature Preserves Guide at http://www.chesco.org/openspace

Major Trail Systems

In addition to Willistown’s trails, there are several trail networks in the Lower Watershed:

• Springfield Trail

• Leiper/Smedley Trail

• Crum Woods Trail (Swarthmore College)

To view a complete listing of public parkland, preserves, and trails along Crum Creek, click here.

Hiking Clubs

The Springfield Trail Club leads hikes along Whiskey Run and in other Springfield parks.  For a listing of this and other area Hiking Clubs, click here.

Private Conservation Easements

Many landowners have donated conservation easements through the efforts of Willistown Conservation Trust and Brandywine Conservancy.   The preservation of these properties has protected water quality by preserving forested lands and riparian buffers, and maintaining lower impervious coverage ratios.  These green ribbons have also helped preserve continuous wildlife corridors.