Chatham receives grant to develop sustainable trail system at Eden Hall Campus; public meetings to be held

Chatham University has been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to fund the creation of a Master Plan for the development of a sustainable trail system in the forests of Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus located in Richland Township, PA. DCNR is the primary source of state support for Pennsylvania recreation, parks, and conservation initiatives.  Grant funding from DCNR assists hundreds of communities and organizations across Pennsylvania to plan, acquire, and develop recreation and park facilities, create trails, and conserve open space.   

The Eden Hall Campus trail system will provide accessible opportunities for education, recreation, and connection for both Chatham students, faculty, and staff and local residents, supporting the mission of the campus as a community resource and showcase of sustainable practices.  

For this project, Chatham representatives, including students, faculty, and staff, are partnering with landscape architecture and community planning studio Pashek + MTR and with community representatives. Initiatives will include performing interviews and facilitating focus groups with local residents as well as inventorying and evaluating 1) existing trails, 2) environmentally sensitive areas and habitats, and 3) the forest structure, including plant communities and invasive species.  

 “Pennsylvania’s local parks, trails, and natural areas create many opportunities to be active outdoors.  They define our communities and make them places where people want to live, work and play,” said Tom Ford, director of DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. “Our grants help our local partners meet the vision they have for their communities and regions.” 

In December 2019, a public meeting will be held to inform the community of the project and allow their input on how the trails can be used, connections to the community, and address any concerns that the community may have.  For more information on these meetings or the project, contact Lou Anne Caligiuri, Executive Director and Dean of Eden Hall Campus, at 412-365-2996 or lcaligiuri@chatham.edu.