Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 155, No. 20
INSIDE
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
$1.00
Splash Club New Garden to open later than expected By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
After weeks of speculation and rumor, it was announced at the May 17 New Garden Board of Supervisors online meeting that Splash Club New Garden – a private KHS holds Mini-THON this member swim club origiFriday...1B nally scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend in Saint Anthony in the Hills – is now projected to welcome guests beginning in the middle of June or in early July.
Following the board’s 5-0 approval that will permit the inter-municipal transfer of the club’s liquor license into the township for use at Splash New Garden, Splash Club co-partner John McKenzie told the board that the highly-anticipated opening of the club has been delayed by what he called “current setbacks.” “Basically, we’re making sure that the integrity of the structural pieces already Courtesy image there at Saint Anthony’s Due to structural engineering work and approvals that still need to be completed, are safe,” he said. “Before Splash New Garden is moving its opening date from Memorial Day weekend to midContinued on page 4A
June or early July.
Pre-final master plan for New Garden park shared with residents By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer PennDOT to replace outdated culvert on Baltimore Pike...2A
‘Picasso in the Spring’ at Bove Jewelers...3A
INDEX
By the time the open house event for the reimagined Saint Anthony in the Hills reached its second hour on May 4, more than 100 local residents had arrived, and more were on their way to see how New Garden Township and its consulting team of designers are imagining
the future of the 137.5-acre property now owned by the township. When they arrived, guests saw the township’s vision for the park splayed across tables adjacent to the long-dormant miniature gold course, in the form of a pre-final master plan that imagines an intricate and winding network of mowed trails and meadowed fields; a children’s destination
playground; picnic grove pavilions; event lawns; a 20-acre dog park; boardwalk overlooks to ponds; an indoor theater; pickleball courts; a fitness area designated for teens and all of it linked to the soon-toopen Splash Surf Club and a possible outdoor event venue at the park’s Greek amphitheater. In order to reach that stage, the township’s Saint
Continued on page 4A
members
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
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cess to get to the pre-final stage of design began about a year ago, when she and her colleagues met with the newly formed Saint Anthony’s Master Plan Committee. “We did initial brainstorming, asking them, ‘What are your thoughts?’” Yost said. “We benchmarked with them to get their best thoughts, then did
Avon Grove School District London Grove on track for lowest tax approves five increase in four years new committee The final spending plan is expected to be adopted on June 3
Opinion.......................7A
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Anthony’s Master Plan Committee is working in consultation with YSM Landscape Architects; Natural Lands; Recreation and Parks Solutions; Buchart Horn Architects; and Atlantic Aquatic Engineering, Inc. As Ann E. Yost, RLA, of YSM guided visitors through the possible future look of the park on a large map, she said that the pro-
Courtesy photo
An aerial view of the construction of the new Avon Grove High School.
The Avon Grove School District (AGSD) conducted its final Committee of the Whole budget work session for the 2020-2021 school year and announced a tax
increase of 2.48 percent, the lowest tax increase since the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The final adoption of the General Fund Budget for 2021-2022 is scheduled to
occur at the school board’s legislative meeting on June 3. The district is keeping its operational budget as flat Continued on page 2A
The London Grove Township Supervisors got a boost in their municipal operations by confirming five new volunteers to the township committees. At the in-person meeting on May 12, Kurt Engleman and Patrick Tucci were approved to fill two unexpired terms on the Planning Commission. The Commission reviews proposals for building projects and blueprints and either makes recommendations for alterations or approves them. They then pass that information to the supervisors for final approval at
meetings. Tina Skinner was confirmed to fill an unexpired term on the Parks and Recreation Board. That committee sees to it that events and improvements are attended to and carried out in the township’s parks. X. Sean Zhang was confirmed to fill an unexpired term on the Environmental Advisory Council. He told the supervisors that he was new to the area, but has always had an interest in the environment and community service. Jane Yetsigian was confirmed to fill an unexpired term on the Historical Commission. Council Continued on page 2A
It’s official: Citadel Country Spirit USA, the popular music festival, is returning Aug. 27 to 29 Organizers made it official last week: the Citadel Country Spirit USA, Philadelphia’s Country
Music Festival, is happen- Show Grounds in Chester ing this year and will take County. place from Aug. 27 to 29 Heralded as a “great at Ludwig’s Corner Horse American festival experience,” this year’s headliners are Brantley Gilbert, Miranda Lambert and Chris Young. The three-day festival features 20 country music acts performing live music on two stages – 14 nationally recognized artists on the GMC Sierra Stage and popular up-and-comers on the Courtesy photo Citadel Rising Star Stage. The Citadel Country Spirit USA music festival features Brantley Gilbert headlines headliners Brantley Gilbert, Miranda Lambert and on Friday, Aug. 27. Justin Chris Young. The three-day festival features 20 counContinued on page 3A
try music acts performing live music on two stages.