PARKS MASTER PLAN

A Guide for West Chester's Future Recreation Development to be Revealed Early 2025

A commitment to making sure West Chester remains competitive, marketable and sustainable – as well as a great place to live – drives development of an up-to-date parks master plan for the community.

Stakeholders including agency partners from Travel Butler County, Butler County MetroParks, Lakota Schools and residents have been engaged with consultants from Hitchcock Design Inc. since May 2024 to develop a roadmap for future recreational amenities and programming.

The resulting Master Plan is expected to be revealed in early 2025.

The Park Master Plan is not intended to be a list of “wants”, but rather a strategic document to guide West Chester’s decision-making with regard to park facilities and open space, recreation programs and operations. The final document will represent a 10-20year strategy for Boards of Trustees to consider.

“The Township’s resources for park development are somewhat limited and this document will help prioritize when considering future recreational demands,” said Community Services Director Arun Hindupur.

The scope of the master plan includes an inventory of existing public and private recreational amenities available to the community and a study of recreational/demographic trends including feedback gathered from several feedback sessions and National Community Survey.

West Chester Township has four park/open space areas – Keehner Park, Beckett Park, The Square and the Upper Mill Creek Conservation Corridor. West Chester residents also benefit from the Voice of America MetroPark.

FUN ON HOLD.....FOR NOW

2 Park Projects Delayed, Still in the Works and Ready to Roll for 2025

Promises of a Beckett Park Splash Pad for Summer 2024 were thwarted by a long list of unanticipated permit delays, but water fun is still in our future.

“We know the community is frustrated by the delays, West Chester is too,” said Arun Hindupur, Community Services Director. “We had hoped to be splashing this summer, but state permitting issues related to water safety dragged on much longer than could have been anticipated."

The $1.54 million project is funded with State Route 747 TIF resources generated by corporate development. The splash playground will be constructed in an area now allocated as a man-made water feature near the picnic shelter on the west side of the park.

The project was approved by the Board of Trustees in Fall 2023 and hit stumbling blocks with permitting shortly after the project began.

“Making sure we meet all requirements for safe water at the splash pad is paramount,” Arun said. “It’s just disappointing that it has taken this long to clear these hurdles.”

A splash pad should be open for play when warm weather returns in 2025.

Another planned project to update West Chester’s Square @ Union Centre is being pushed to allow sufficient construction time with minimal interference to summer events. Final drawings for the remodel are nearing completion with bidding expected to take place yet this year.

Construction, however, will likely begin late summer 2025 in order to accommodate early summer events like Shamrock Shuffle, Food Truck Rally and The Takeover (abbreviated season).

The re-imagining of The Square will make room for a covered stage, additional shade and more seating.