– 11/26/14 DCNR Grants West Chester $600K to Preserve the Barclay Grounds

Dear Friend of the Barclay Grounds,

I am delighted to share with you the exciting news that the PA DCNR has confirmed it will grant $600K to the Borough of West Chester specifically for the purchase and preservation of the Barclay Grounds. DCNR stands for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

When added to the other two grants received this year for the Barclay Grounds ($125K from Chester County; $100K from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development) the total comes to $825K. When the $200K commitment from the Barclay Grounds Preservation Alliance (BGPA) is added to this it takes the total raised to date to $1.025 million. This puts the successful preservation of the Barclay Grounds as a new Borough of West Chester park well within reach.

We hope you will come out to celebrate with us tomorrow by participating in the BGPA’s first annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. It will be a fun and energizing 3-mile walk that begins at the beautiful and historic Barclay Grounds (corner of N. Church and W. Marshall) and leads through the streets of West Chester, visiting Marshall Square Park, Everhart Park and neighborhoods along the way. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome to join in the fun. Bring your thermos cups – as coffee, hot chocolate and donut holes will be provided.

There is no “entry fee” but we ask that you make a monetary donation in an amount of your own choosing – so that the Barclay Grounds and events like these will be here for years to come.
For more information or to register in advance and/or buy a commemorative 2014 Turkey Trot T-Shirt visit https://www.savethebarclaygrounds.org/west-chester-turkey-trot-2014/

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to seeing you at the “Turkey Trot”.

John