Community Topics

Most issues are discussed and addressed at the township level. In addition to the Board of Supervisors, there are a number of standing committees that focus on specific areas of responsibility. Key township committees include: Open Space, Planning, Finance, Sewer Authority, and the Historical and Architectural Review Board (HARB).

We encourage you to go to the Chadds Ford Township website to learn more about what each committee does and consider attending the committees that deal with issues that concern you most.

Walkable Chadds Ford

Chadds Ford Township recently announced that the Walkable Chadds Ford Project officially became underway Monday, August 11, with major activity anticipated over the coming months. This transformative infrastructure initiative is designed to improve pedestrian safety, mobility, and access along the U.S. Route 1 corridor, connecting two Historic Districts — the Brandywine Battlefield and the Chadds Ford Village.

Project Overview: Connecting History, Community, and Commerce

The Walkable Chadds Ford Project’s goal is to create a safe, scenic pedestrian route through the heart of Chadds Ford Village—an area currently divided by the heavily traveled Route 1. The project encompasses traffic improvements and the construction of new trails and sidewalks that include elevated boardwalks, pedestrian bridges, and ADA intersections that will allow residents and visitors to comfortably walk between key destinations such as the Brandywine Battlefield, Turner’s Mill Park, and nearby shops, restaurants, and museums.

Chadds Ford Township’s vision is to become a more accessible, vibrant, and connected community, while also protecting the area’s historic and natural character. By improving walkability and safety, the project is expected to strengthen the local economy, support sustainable tourism, and create a unique, pedestrian-friendly environment that enhances the overall quality of life.

Construction Schedule

August 2025

• Construction access points will be established at the Township Building, Creek Road at Route 1, and near the crosswalk behind the Postal Building.

• Vegetation clearing and preparation will take place along the full path route from the Township Building to Hoffmans Mill Road.

• Targeted tree removal will occur throughout the site to support safe and efficient construction.

September 2025

• Construction of Boardwalk and two new pedestrian bridges between the Township Building and Creek Road.

• Trail construction and paving prep from Creek Road to Hoffmans Mill Road.

• ADA-compliant ramp installation at the Creek Road and Station Way crossing, pending material availability.

• Curb and path construction, including additional ADA ramps, from Station Way to Hoffmans Mill Road, pending material availability.

October 2025

• Clearing and site preparation for portions of elevated Wetland boardwalk.

How to Get Involved

 For detailed project plans and supporting documentation, see https://www.chaddsfordpa.gov/open-spaces/page/walkable-chadds-ford  

This project will also be discussed at most Township Supervisor meetings (see township meeting calendar)

Delco Vision Zero

Chadds Ford Township is currently evaluating the Delco Vision Zero Action Plan, a comprehensive, data-driven initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injury crashes on roadways. Delaware County recently became the first county in Pennsylvania to adopt a Vision Zero plan, reinforcing its commitment to making streets safer for everyone.

Vision Zero is a proactive approach to road safety that recognizes traffic deaths and severe injuries are preventable, not inevitable. The plan focuses on safer road design, lower speeds, equitable enforcement, and community education to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.

A Collaborative Approach to Safer Streets 

Unlike some counties that directly own and manage roads, Delaware County does not own or maintain roadways—a responsibility that falls primarily to local municipalities and PennDOT. However, the Vision Zero Action Plan provides a clear, data-driven framework that municipalities can adopt to implement safety improvements in their communities.

The Delaware County Planning Department will work closely with municipalities by providing guidance, technical support, and resources to help implement the plan’s recommendations. By partnering with local governments, the County aims to coordinate safety strategies, improve infrastructure, and secure funding opportunities to make roads safer for all residents.

A Community-Driven Vision

The Vision Zero Action Plan was developed through an extensive community engagement process. A team of 16 Safety Ambassadors, along with the Delaware County Planning Department, conducted outreach across the County, gathering feedback from over 2,310 residents. Engagement efforts included:

• Eight focus groups

• A public survey with 1,730 responses

• Sixteen walk audits

• Participation in more than 90 community events

The plan prioritizes measures that enhance road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, with a focus on:

• Safer street design

• Traffic calming measures

• Improved pedestrian and bike infrastructure

• Data-driven enforcement strategies

• Community education on road safety

How to Get Involved

For more information, visit the Vision Zero Action Plan website

This project will be discussed at certain Chadds Ford Township Planning Commission meetings (see township meeting calendar to see whether Delco Vision Zero is on the agenda)

Painter's Folly

Chadds Ford Township is currently evaluating the future of Painter's Folly, an Italianate style home built in 1857 by Samuel Painter. In March 2018, Chadds Ford Township purchased Painter's Folly as part of Township's Open Space inventory to preserve the house and its three and one-half acre property. 

What is Painter’s Folly’s historical significance?

 Painter’s Folly is critically important to the history, art, and architecture of Chadds Ford and Delaware County, and more broadly to American culture and identity in general.

Painter’s Folly was part of the original land that comprised the entire site of the Continental Army’s headquarters and staging area for the Battle of the Brandywine.

Samuel Painter, the builder of Painter’s Folly, was a prominent abolitionist and editor of a Whig newspaper in Pennsylvania. It is speculated that Painter’s Folly may have played a role in the Underground Railroad, although more research is needed to make that determination.

Painter designed the building in the Italianate style after a trip to Italy where he studied Italian architecture. His design of the building influenced Samuel Sloan, a 19th century American architect who designed the local courthouses in West Chester and Media, along with many other public and private structures in the Mid-Atlantic and South.

Howard Pyle, a descendant of the Painter family, located his summer school of art at Painter’s Folly. Pyle was familiar with the location and history of the property in regards to its proximity to the Battle of the Brandywine and the headquarters for General Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, which were on Painter’s Folly’s property at the time.

Pyle’s summer art school sessions introduced artists such as N.C. Wyeth, Allen Tupper True, Ethel Franklin Betts, Jessie Willcox Smith, and many other prominent Gilded Age illustrators and artists to Chadds Ford.

Painter’s Folly and its subsequent owners, George and Helen Sipala, were subjects for the internationally renowned artist, Andrew Wyeth, over the last twenty years of his career. He maintained several working studios in Painter’s Folly during that period. Wyeth’s notable works of the building include “Painter’s Folly,” “Widow’s Walk,” and “Marriage.” Andrew’s wife, Betsy James Wyeth, suggested the Sipala’s revive the historical name of Painter’s Folly (they had initially named the building Lafayette Manor), and commissioned the current sign used for the building.

Painter’s Folly is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and efforts have begun to obtain National Historic Landmark status, which is a prestigious register of only about 2,000 structures and sites across the United States significant to national identity.

Current Situation

 Chadds Ford Township purchased the house and property for $685,000 in 2017. Since then, the Township has explored several potential uses for the property. These efforts have not been financially successful, and the Township is concerned about ongoing maintenance costs and potential capital expenses due to the age of the building. Thus, the Township has been actively seeking alternative ownership models for the house and property including potential partnerships with preservation group or simply auctioning the property. This will be an ongoing discussion at the Township in the upcoming months.

Recent Township meetings have provided an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns both from a taxpayer and preservation perspective.

How to Get Involved

 The Painter’s Folly Community Update outlines the Township’s work to date, the preservation challenges identified, current efforts underway, and potential next steps for this important historic site. 

Painter’s Folly will primarily be discussed at Township Supervisor and Open Space Committee meetings (see township meeting calendar to see whether it is on the agenda—available 48 hours prior to meeting)