East Nottingham

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The Recreation Plan element of the Open Space, Recreation & Environmental Resources Plan examines recreational opportunities available to East Nottingham Township residents. It recognizes at the outset that few, if any, recreation opportunities ever have been directly provided by the Township itself. Limited Township involvement has stemmed from overall low population density in East Nottingham and local perception of appropriate governmental roles. Nevertheless, East Nottingham Township residents avail themselves of a wide variety of recreational services available in southern Chester County and beyond. It is appropriate that the Township monitor ongoing recreational opportunities, assess unmet local recreational needs on a periodic basis, and reevaluate potential Township involvement. Standards for Recreation Lands and Facilities Open space and recreation lands and facilities can generally be classified as either "passive" or "active". Passive recreation areas are generally those areas focused on enjoyment of natural, scenic or historic resources. Structured recreational facilities are generally limited at passive sites, directed toward providing access or facilitating resource interpretation. Prevalent activities are those which can be undertaken on an individual or small group basis and require limited formal programming, such as hiking, fishing, bird-watching, and picnicking. In contrast, active recreation areas are usually focused on more structured or organized recreational activities such as team sports or those requiring significant structural development, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, or large-scale playground equipment. Many park and recreation facilities include areas for both active and passive recreational activities. As a tool to evaluate local recreational services, we have utilized standards developed for the Chester County Open Space and Recreation Study (CCOSRS), completed in 1982. These standards were based on standards originally provided by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Recreational standards are most useful in terms of evaluating adequacy of active recreational facilities, frequently expressed in terms of number of facilities available to each 1,000 residents. Passive recreational areas are usually evaluated rather generally in terms of provision of so many acres of parkland per resident, although a threshold of 1,000 residents also often is used. In either case, this is an extremely large threshold in the context of planning for a total municipal population of only several thousand. Thus, population-based standards only can generate a gross order of magnitude of "need" when applied to relatively small populations. Regional Parks Regional parks are large scale park preserves serving an area greater even than Chester County. Because of their regional significance, such parks are usually provided by federal or state governments. They typically provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities -- both active and passive, particularly those requiring large land or water areas. Emphasis is often placed on recreation opportunities beyond the scope of those typically provided at local parks, including, for example, camping, boating and swimming. CCOSRS suggests that each regional park be at least 1,000 acres in land area. Across the region, there should be twenty acres of regional parkland available for each 1,000 persons, with a maximum service area radius of thirty miles. Subregional Parks These parks fill the gap between regional parks and local parks. Ideally, they provide relatively large tracts of public open space within a short drive of home; fifteen minutes is considered a reasonable threshold. Serving less that an entire county, subregional parks are beyond the scope of municipal provision. They are likely to be provided by county government, but could be provided jointly by more than one municipality. Subregional parks should be geared to regular use on weekdays as well as weekends. They should offer the trails, fields, courts, water recreation areas, picnic areas, and woodlands that local parks can only partially provide. CCOSRS suggests 8.5 acres of subregional parkland per 1,000 population with each regional park comprising at least 100 acres and having a service area radius of 7.5 miles. Community Parks and Recreation Facilities Community park lands and facilities are usually provided by municipal government to serve a variety of local outdoor recreation needs on a regular basis, both active and passive, group and individual. In many municipalities, a system of community and neighborhood parks and/or free-standing recreation facilities might collectively meet local needs in a variety of settings, ideally spreading facilities within walking- distance or a short drive of a broad spectrum of residents. Individual parks might specialize in a particular realm of recreational service. "Community parks" are the larger of local parks, typically encompassing at least 15 acres and including a range of recreational facilities: multi-use playing fields and courts, specialized areas/facilities for small children and for senior citizens, picnic areas, space for special events, off-street parking, paths, trails and undesignated open space. No single park need necessarily contain a full range of recreational facilities. The actual number of fields, courts and other recreation facilities included at any one park should reflect a careful analysis of community needs. Facilities for indoor recreation should also be available to the community, but need not be provided directly in conjunction with community park facilities, nor even by local government, if alternatives can be made available (school or community buildings, for example). Individual community parks usually serve a population base larger than that of East Nottingham Township. CCOSRS suggests an idealized minimum park size of 20 acres with a service area radius of 2.5 miles. CCOSRS notes further that as much as half the land area in such a park might comprise undesignated open space available for passive recreational pursuit. In practice, community parks often are smaller in land area and more focused toward active recreational opportunities. "Neighborhood parks" usually are smaller and less complex than community parks. They are specifically intended to provide walking-distance service (roughly one-half mile) in relatively densely populated areas where individual "backyard" recreation opportunities are limited. This generally can be equated to neighborhoods where lot sizes average one-acre or less. Where neighborhood parks prove needed, each ideally should comprise 5-15 acres and include area(s) appropriate for a variety of informal field sports; basketball, volleyball, and/or multi-purpose court(s); jogging and/or exercise trail; tot play area and apparatus; informal picnic and sitting area. Specific development of neighborhood parkland should be tailored to suit the needs and preferences of local residents, taking into account the availability or lack of "backyard" recreational opportunities and/or other convenient private or community recreational facilities. Location of neighborhood parks relative to major roads or other barriers to pedestrian traffic must be considered when assessing the service area radius for any particular neighborhood park. "Sub-Neighborhood parks," termed “urban residential parksâ€� by CCOSRS are even smaller than neighborhood parks, serving the most densely populated neighborhoods or developments at walking- distance - no more than one-quarter mile. This generally would be expected in multi-family or â €œtownhomeâ€� development or single-family development with very small lots and essentially no â €œbackyardâ€� recreational opportunities. Sub-neighborhood parks may be as small as one acre or less and often focus on the daytime recreational needs of senior citizens and pre-school children with supervising adults. Principal facilities would include tot play apparatus and quiet sitting areas. Sub- neighborhood parks also may include some of the recreational facilities more often found in a neighborhood park, such as basketball courts. As with neighborhood parks, specific facility development should reflect the needs and preferences of the residents of the immediate service area. Sub- neighborhood park development most logically should be integrated into the approval of land developments which, by their nature, generate the need for such recreational facilities. However, provision for sub-neighborhood recreational development should not eliminate a developer/applicantâ €™s obligation to contribute to broader community park development CCOSRS recommends standards for estimating community park need which vary by park type and according to density of settlement. Population density in East Nottingham ranges from rural to rural- suburban. For rural-suburban communities, CCOSRS recommends a minimum of 4.5 acres of community parkland per 1,000 residents and 3.5 acres of neighborhood parkland per 1,000 residents. Minimum standards for sub-neighborhood parks are suggested only for urban communities, at 0.25 acre per 1,000 residents. In the context of East Nottingham Township, it is reasonable to combine these population-based standards, since only the more developed portions of the Township need neighborhood or sub-neighborhood recreational facilities, while community parkland serves the entire Township, but also can meet neighborhood needs in its immediate vicinity. Thus, overall need for community and neighborhood parkland can be estimated based on a combined CCOSRS standard of 8.25 acres per 1,000 population Recreation Facility Standards Population-based standards offer a general measure of need for sport field and court areas typically provided at neighborhood or community parks. Standards also can be found for recreation facilities like golf courses, camping areas, and water-based recreation facilities which serve a base population far greater than that of East Nottingham alone. Because the service areas for such facilities are much larger than the immediate community, this plan does not measure the local population against those population- based standards. For numerous recreational activities/facilities, no population based standards are available. These tend to include primarily "passive" recreational use of open space associated, for example, with: hiking, walking, and equestrian trails; bikeways; picnic areas; fishing; and winter recreation activities. Population-Based Standards: Baseball/Softball Fields: 0.5/1,000 pop. Football Fields: 0.4/1,000 pop. Soccer Fields: 0.5/1,000 pop. Tennis Courts: 0.5/1,000 pop. Basketball Courts: 0.4/1,000 pop. Volleyball Courts: 0.3/1,000 pop. Standard Field Sizes: Regulation Hardball: 2.8 acres Junior Hardball: 1.4 acres Regulation Softball: 1.8 acres Junior Softball: 0.8 acres Regular Football: 2.0 acres Touch Football: 1.4 acres Regulation Soccer: 1.4 acres Standard Court Sizes: Two Reg. Tennis courts: 0.25 acres Regular Full Basketball Court: 0.2 acre Regular Volleyball Court: 0.1 acre Except in more densely populated urban and suburban areas, facilities for swimming are seldom provided at the local governmental level. Nevertheless, opportunities for swimming should be available to local residents; CCOSRS suggests a standard of 0.2 swimming areas per 1,000 population. Swimming areas include not only pools but also swimming beaches at both natural and artificial water bodies. Recreation Programs While municipal governments often assume a direct role in recreational programming, it is not unusual that such a role be limited in relatively low-density municipalities. East Nottingham Township does not directly engage in provision for recreational programs at this time. CCOSRS suggests a population of 10,000 as the threshold for municipal employment of a full-time recreation director. East Nottingham is not expected to reach that population threshold within the next twenty years. Nevertheless, the Township may wish to pursue cooperative provision for recreational programming in the broader Oxford area, which overall exceeds that population threshold, through the auspices of other public or private recreation agencies. Even without direct involvement in recreational programming, it is appropriate for East Nottingham Township to monitor recreational demand, to encourage access for local residents to facilities and programs provided by others, and to monitor need for future municipal action. While there are no hard numeric standards for provision of recreational programs, the Township should be confident that all sectors of the community are adequately served by a wide variety of program opportunities. Programs ranging from organized and individual athletics to arts and crafts, social and cultural programs, and special community events should be available to children, youth, adults, senior citizens, and handicapped individuals. It is appropriate to minimize direct municipal programming involvement through coordination and cooperation (formal and informal) with other public agencies and with private and quasi-public agencies, potentially including the Oxford Area School District, local fire companies, churches, social and athletic organizations. Inventory of Existing Recreation Conditions Regional Parks East Nottingham residents are, to some extent, served by several regional parks within a one-hour driving radius. These include two Pennsylvania state parks: Marsh Creek (Chester Company), and Ridley Creek (Delaware Company). Additional areas which help to fulfill the regional park role as far as East Nottingham Township residents are concerned may include Pennsylvania's Octorara Preserve (recently redesignated the Valley Forge State Forest, District #17), the bi-state White Clay Creek Preserve (Chester Company, Pa. and New Castle Company, De.), Delaware's adjacent Walter S. Carpenter State Park, along with Delaware's Lum's Pond State Park, and Maryland's Susquehanna and Elk Neck State Parks and Fair Hill Natural Resources Area. These areas offer substantial opportunity for picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding. Marsh Creek, Lum's Pond and Elk Neck provide for swimming, boating, and fishing. Major camping facilities are provided at Lum's Pond, Susquehanna, and Elk Neck, while Marsh Creek and Ridley Creek have youth hostels. Fair Hill, comprising 5,613 acres in Maryland, immediately adjacent to the Chester County line, offers extensive and renowned equestrian facilities - including a 4-mile race track and 3,000- seat grandstand, fairgrounds, nature center, trails and stream access. Residents are known to take advantage of the vast recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay, which at its closest reaches is only a 15-20 minute drive from East Nottingham Township. Subregional Parks Chester County's Nottingham Park lies easily within a fifteen-minute-drive service area radius of East Nottingham Township residents, located in adjacent West Nottingham Township. The park comprises over 600 acres of largely passive open space, including a large area of unique serpentine barrens. Nottingham Park offers an extensive trail system, picnicking facilities and campground. Additional park and recreation facilities in nearby Delaware and Maryland potentially serve subregional park roles for East Nottingham residents, although few, if any, literally fall within a fifteen-minute-drive service area radius. The 110-acre Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Maryland, harbors over 300 exotic animals and hosts zoo camps and other special events and programs. The 224-acre Chrome Serpentine Barrens has been purchased by Elk Township as a unique natural preserve, with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partial grant funding from both Chester County and the Commonwealth. The preserve is managed by TNC under agreement with the Township, offering passive trail use, informal nature study, and limited hunting. Community Parks and Recreation Facilities There is no true "community park" in East Nottingham Township at present. However, the multi-school campus of the Oxford Area School District, totaling over 100 acres, straddles the municipal boundary between Oxford Borough and East Nottingham Township, and is located within the desirable 2.5-mile service area radius from East Nottingham Township residents. Existing recreational facilities are summarized below. The new (undeveloped) Oxford Area High School site is located within East Nottingham and comprises an additional 66 acres. The Oxford Area School District facilities give first priority for use to school programs and functions. Outside groups may arrange to use school facilities but must reimburse the School District for any costs incurred beyond those normally assumed by the District. In 2002, East Nottingham joined with Oxford Borough and Elk, Upper and Lower Oxford, and West Nottingham Townships to form the Oxford Area Recreation Authority (OARA). The immediate function of OARA is to acquire the Gray tracts, located predominantly in East Nottingham at the southwest corner of Oxford Borough, for future community recreational development. Acquisition of the approximately 70- acre Gray tracts is underway but no formal plans yet exist for recreational development. The ultimate role of OARA as a recreation provider has not yet been formalized, beyond initial community parkland acquisition. The Tipton little league field and Oxford Athletic Association softball fields also are located within East Nottingham. The Oxford Memorial Park, located within the Borough, offers playground equipment, shuffleboard, and other outdoor activities. Small community parks also are located nearby in Upper Oxford and Lower Oxford Townships, West Grove Borough and in Quarryville Borough and Little Britain Township in Lancaster County. Bicknells Pool in East Nottingham is open for summer swimming on the basis of fee membership. Nearby Lincoln University also has a swimming pool, walking trail and baseball field. The Wyncote Golf Club offers public fee access nearby in Lower Oxford Township. Several community recreational facilities in Cecil County (Md.) are located only slightly farther away; these include the Cecil County Community Center near Rising Sun and the County's Elk Mills and Wallace-Carters Mill Parks. Several other school facilities also are reasonably close to East Nottingham Township, including the Rising Sun High School. The Cecil County Board of Education will arrange for organized public use of school facilities. The Southern Chester County YMCA at Jennersville includes a swimming pool. 1. Oxford Area High School (present site) Outdoor playing fields: Football/soccer field complex, including track: one Baseball fields: two Practice field (separate from football complex): one Field hockey fields: two Outdoor tennis courts: five Gymnasium: one Auditorium: one Parking for 160 cars Penn's Grove Middle School Gymnasium: one Cafeteria: one Parking for 100 cars Elk Ridge Elementary School Outdoor playing fields: Softball field: one Soccer field: one Baseball fields: two Multi-purpose room: one Parking for 65 cars Nottingham Elementary School Softball fields: two Gymnasium: one All-purpose room: one Parking for 75 cars Jordan Bank Elementary School Multi-purpose room: one Parking for 50 cars Tipton Field Regulation (Little League) Baseball field: one Oxford Athletic Association Softball fields: two At present, the Wiltshire, Locksley Glen, Twin Ponds and Cooper Farms developments include common open space parcels under the purview of local Homeowners Associations (HOAs). All of these open space parcels are passive in nature and none have been developed so as to provide for any active neighborhood park recreational opportunities. Section 512 of the East Nottingham Township Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance (S/LDO) stipulates that “all residential subdivisions and land developments shall be provided with park and recreation land which shall be offered for dedication to the Township.â€� The S/LDO further provides for payment of fees-in-lieu of dedication of recreational lands, at a rate of $150 per dwelling. In the context of fees that might be justified by this Plan, the current fee would appear to be very low. For example, some other municipalities across Southeastern Pennsylvania request fees in the range of $1,000-$3,500 per new dwelling unit. Recreation Programs A wide range of recreational programs are available to East Nottingham residents, including special community events, organized sports, arts and crafts, nature activities, and social activities. Due to geographic location and modest local population densities, many locally accessible programs are offered beyond the bounds of East Nottingham Township, itself. East Nottingham Township residents have available opportunities to participate in a variety of youth and adult leagues, including the Oxford Area Little League, Oxford Senior League, Oxford Athletic Association youth (girls) and adult softball leagues, Oxford Golden Bears youth football, Southern Chester County Soccer Association youth soccer leagues, Oxford American Legion baseball as well as American Legion baseball in the Kennett Square area, the Kennett Men's Softball League, and in adult baseball, softball, and soccer leagues in New Castle County, De. Three local YMCAs (Southern Chester County, Elkton, Md. and Newark, De.) are located within about 20-30 minutes of East Nottingham Township residents, offering exercise instruction, aquatic programs (including recreational swimming), adult racquetball, volleyball, and basketball leagues, parent/child programs (Indian Guides/Princesses), and child care and summer camp programs. The Southern Chester County YMCA also has a branch program center in Oxford Borough. Other programs are offered through local churches, 4-H Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts troops, Garden Club, Lions Club, Elks, Eagles, Rotary, Oxford Redmen, Masonic Lodge and American Legion post. Oxford Mainstreet, Incorporated offers the â €œMusic on Main Streetâ€� concert series. Private clubs scattered about the region further augment recreational programming opportunities. The Fair Hill Natural Resources Area offers considerable formal and informal natural interpretive programming, special events, and trail access. The Chrome Serpentine Barrens offers unique natural interpretive values; limited trail access is available, but no formal programming is offered at this time. Programs for senior citizens are offered regionally at the Oxford Area Senior Center, as well as at Lincoln University and in Kennett Square, and Newark, De. Additional programs of interest to senior citizens are found among those offered by area YMCAs. Community Recreation Operations All formal recreation programming serving East Nottingham residents is coordinated by the various private and quasi-public programming agencies. No formal recreational services are provided by the Township. Recreation Needs Assessment Regional Parks Based on review of available acreage, facilities and service area radii, regional parks in southeastern Pennsylvania do not adequately meet the regional park needs of their service areas. It is in the interest of the Township to support the expansion of regional parks and associated recreational opportunities. Subregional Parks The 3,000-acre County park system essentially meets the population-based park acreage standard county-wide and, in terms of proximity, East Nottingham is well served. Community Parks and Recreation Facilities Population-based standards can be applied to East Nottingham, utilizing the actual 2000 census count, while projecting the resident population in 2010. The U.S. Census counted 5,516 persons in East Nottingham on April 1, 2000. The last comprehensive plan had estimated a 2000 population of only 4,180, yet based on recent building activity, it was clear that a figure in the neighborhood of 5,500 was likely. It may not be reasonable to assume that recent growth rates will continue indefinitely into the future, especially if the Township embraces planning techniques to manage growth more deliberately. However, applying average growth rates over a longer twenty year historical period to the next ten years would yield a 2010 population projection of 7,000 - 7,750. Within this range, the Chester County Planning Commission recently projected a 2010 population of 7,240 for East Nottingham. Applying rounded population figures of 5,500 for 2000 and 7,500 for 2010 results in an estimated need of 45 acres of community and neighborhood parkland in East Nottingham at present, increasing to 62 acres of parkland to accommodate projected population increases to the year 2010. Lands under acquisition by OARA at the Gray tracts can certainly meet acreage needs for community parkland, but also must be considered in view of their service to all of the municipalities in the broader region. While significant passive recreational lands and facilities within the region serve Township residents, East Nottingham is not served by dedicated community recreational facilities, including ballfields and courts, except for limited private facilities, and, to the extent that school facilities are available to the general public. Absent public facilities specifically intended to serve the residents of East Nottingham, it also becomes important to review facility needs in terms of the population of the entire Oxford Area School District, since principal facilities at the schools, indeed, serve the entire district and cannot be perceived as serving East Nottingham exclusively. The U.S. Census counted 20,364 persons collectively in the municipalities comprising the School District in 2000; the Chester County Planning Commission projects that the regional population will reach 24,460 by 2010. Applying population-based standards for recreational facilities to East Nottingham Township (ENT) and to the Oxford Area School District as a whole (OASD) results in standard "needs" for 2000 and 2010 as indicated below. In view of recent population growth that has clearly outstripped prior projections, this analysis should be revisited if high rates of population growth continue, beyond the conservative levels assumed herein. Facility Type: Standard Requirement: 2000 2010 ENT OASD ENT OASD Baseball/Softball Fields: 3 10 4 13 Football/Soccer Fields: 5 18 7 23 Tennis Courts: 3 10 4 13 Basketball Courts: 2 8 3 10 Volleyball Courts: 2 6 2 8 The existing 5 softball and 5 baseball fields, none of which are “publicâ€� per se, on the surface meet the needs of the entire District at present, with a three field deficit by 2010. The 3 existing football/soccer fields, all located at School District facilities, do not even meet the present needs of East Nottingham, let alone the entire District. Based on standard needs assessment, there will be an enormous deficit by 2010. The 5 existing tennis courts, also all located at School District facilities, only meet half of the district-wide need, again assuming their public availability. There are no outdoor basketball or volleyball facilities serving East Nottingham residents at present, although it can be assumed that the three indoor gymnasiums can be made available for these recreational purposes. Again, measured District-wide, that number is still not sufficient. It can be expected that new facilities developed at the new high school will alleviate facility deficits to an extent, yet again, such facilities are designed to meet school needs first and the general public only secondarily. Ultimate recreational development at the Gray tracts could go a long way toward meeting identified needs for community recreational facilities. The Gray tracts are reasonably located from the perspective of community park service to East Nottingham residents, as indicated on the Recreation Plan map. At some 70 acres in size, the Gray tracts can easily accommodate sufficient recreational development to serve immediate community park needs both for East Nottingham and the entire region, so long as augmented by securing community access to active recreational facilities at the several School District properties. In this context, only one large and well-developed community park could meet most local community recreational needs through the year 2010. However, region-wide needs will ultimately outstrip capacity for recreational development at the Gray tracts. Additional community park development will be needed and logically should be developed north or east of Oxford Borough, leaving the Gray tracts as the primary community park facility serving the southwestern portion of the region, and particularly East Nottingham and Oxford Borough. Should appropriate opportunities arise, additional community recreational development designed to serve needs beyond the year 2010 might also be considered at dispersed locations, even within the Township. From a locational standpoint, future neighborhood park development should consider proximity and ease of access from existing concentrations of development, as well as new or likely future development. Existing concentrations of relatively small lots warrant access to modest neighborhood recreational space, particularly in the absence of local community park facilities. When planning for use of recreational field space, fields may be designed for multi-purpose use. However, to facilitate both recreational programming and field maintenance, it is best not to overlap baseball/softball fields with football/soccer fields. Planning for recreational facility development should also consider the potential needs of various subgroups within the overall population, particularly where the population differs widely from the norms upon which most "standards" are based. The population might be divided into three basic groups: school age, the work force, and retired. These correspond generally to the respective age groups: under 18, 18-64, and over 65. The "typical" array of recreational facilities discussed here would reflect a "normal" population makeup, in terms of the proportion of the population within each group. In Chester County as a whole, these three age groups accounted for 24.9, 64.3, and 10.8 percent of the population respectively in 1990. In East Nottingham Township, the youngest population group, at 32.6%, is substantially larger than the County average, indicating the particular importance to recreational planning and programming of consideration of youth programs and childrenâ €™s facilities, as well as the issue of transportation dependence. Trails Pathways or trails only occupy a narrow, linear land area, yet frequently are the primary means of access, both physical and/or visual, to the broad open space landscape. Trails may be geared to one or more types of trail use, including hiking, jogging, running, bicycling, equestrian use and cross-country skiing. Bicycle paths are the most needed recreational facility in southeastern Pennsylvania, according to a recent draft of the State Recreation Plan. Trails may be incorporated into park open space areas or may be independent, extending recreational opportunity beyond specifically designated park or open space areas. They can serve as links connecting various open space, park and recreation areas to each other and to the populace they serve. Trails can be made permanent through public acquisition or through establishment of easements. Ideally, trails will occupy suitable natural corridors such as stream valleys or woodlands, or suitable man- made corridors such as railroad rights-of-way, utility easements and scenic, low-traffic-volume roadways. They should be located where easily managed and monitored, and where impacts to residential properties can be minimized. They should have frequent access points from existing roads, and should be designed to link recreation facilities, residential areas, schools, and other centers of activity. Minimum design standards required for intended trail use type(s) should be accommodated. Multi-use trails must have sufficient width and clearance to accommodate all permitted uses. Ideally, bicycle routes will be separated from equestrian/pedestrian routes. Where feasible, a basic system of bicycle and pedestrian routes is a desirable means to offer safe non- motorized access between residential neighborhoods and recreational facilities, primarily utilizing lands within existing public rights-of-way, augmented by appropriate segments in open space areas obtained through the development process. Within road rights-of-way, pathways could be established parallel to but separate from the vehicular cartway. A key to proper trail usage is a meaningful system of trails with logical beginning and ending points. Short, disconnected trail segments discourage use and inadvertently may offer haven to those bent on misuse. Pocopson Township, for example, has long embarked on a policy of formal trail designation, but keeps trail easements "in escrow" until complete segments can be formally designated. Also critical to proper usage is regular monitoring, ideally by locally based groups who also might promote proper use and contribute to trail maintenance. In a number of communities, locally-based trails associations have been established for these purposes. Where formal provision for recreational trail access is made across private lands, landowner liability has been specifically limited by act of legislature (Act 586 of 1987). Except in cases of "malicious" failure to warn of hazardous conditions, the act releases landowners from liability for injury to person or property occurring when recreational use is permitted without charge. The act also specifically defines and prohibits "recreational trespass," including vandalism, littering, and failure to leave gates, fences, etc. in the same condition as they were found. Nevertheless, provision for proper trail maintenance and security is always important. Over-use of trails can also result in real or perceived problems, ranging from erosion of trail surfaces and habitat damage to loss of privacy for neighbors and deterioration of the recreational experience. Clearly, the more extensive the available network of trails, the less likelihood that individual segments will suffer from over-use. It is important that trail rights-of-way or easements be clearly documented as to any access restrictions, maintenance or management responsibilities, and monitoring rights or obligations. Such issues should be resolved to the satisfaction of the Township prior to approval of any subdivision or land development plan providing for formalized trail access. Linking Landscapes, the Policy Element of the Chester County Comprehensive Plan, recommends that communities throughout Chester County be inter-linked through establishment of “Regional Recreation Corridors.â€� The County Plan defines Regional Recreation Corridors as linear areas of land that include points of interest or recreational destinations - like state parks and historic villages - and the trails, paths and bike routes that link such lands. Rather than taking the place of already existing municipal trails, the Regional Recreation Corridors are intended as a means for connecting trails within adjacent municipalities to create multi-trail systems. Trails within Regional Recreation Corridors may be used for recreation or non-motorized transportation, including bicycle commuting, and might also coincide with natural corridors for wildlife movement. Linking Landscapes identifies four Regional Recreation Corridors crossing East Nottingham Township, none of which host developed trails to date. Oxford-Avondale Regional Recreation Corridor extends from the Pennsylvania-Maryland Border in West Nottingham Township, north along the old Octoraro Railway lines now owned by SEPTA, and into Oxford Borough, from there east into Avondale Borough, and from there south down the White Clay Creek to the Pennsylvania-Delaware border. In East Nottingham, it links with the Tweed Corridor southwest of Oxford Borough and, just northeast of Oxford in Lower Oxford Township, links to the Big Elk Corridor. The primary purpose of this Corridor is to provide the communities in Southern Chester County with access to White Clay Creek Preserve State Park and the proposed Octoraro rail-trail in Cecil County, Maryland. Big Elk Creek Regional Recreation Corridor extends from the Maryland border at the Elk-Franklin Township line, up Big Elk Creek to where it forms the eastern boundary of East Nottingham, and from there up the West Branch of Big Elk Creek through the northeast corner of East Nottingham to meet the Oxford-Avondale Regional Trails Corridor just across the line in Lower Oxford Township. The primary purpose of this Corridor is to provide the communities in Southern Chester County with access to the extensive Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area just across the state line in Maryland. Serpentine Regional Recreation Corridor extends from Octoraro Creek up Black Run into Nottingham County Park, and from there east through a series of serpentine barrens to Big Elk Creek, traversing the southernmost portion of East Nottingham in an east-west direction. The primary purpose of this Corridor is to provide the communities in Southwestern Chester County with access to Nottingham County Park and the various serpentine barrens sites in the region. Tweed Regional Recreation Corridor extends from the Octoraro Creek, at the western edge of Lower Oxford Township, up Tweed Run into East Nottingham, joining the Oxford-Avondale Regional Recreation Corridor just southwest of Oxford Borough and in the vicinity of the Gray tracts. The primary purpose of this Corridor is to provide the communities in Southwestern Chester County with access to Octoraro Creek and the historical Hopewell Village. Countywide, the Chester County Planning Commission and the County Parks Department have designated nine of the Regional Recreation Corridors as “Regional Priority Trail Corridors.â€� These Corridors are viewed as having the greatest potential to link large areas of Chester County with trails that extend outside the County. Combined, these nine corridors are viewed as creating the basic foundation for a countywide trail network. Two of them, the Big Elk Corridor and the Serpentine Corridor, traverse East Nottingham Township. In addition, Linking Landscapes notes that all of the four corridors crossing East Nottingham interconnect so as to offer opportunities for trail “loops,â€� enhancing their recreational value. Potential trail loops labeled Trail Loop J and Trail Loop K in Linking Landscapes encompass the corridor segments that traverse East Nottingham, with potential trailheads cited at Oxford Borough and Nottingham County Park. Recreation Programs As discussed above under inventory, East Nottingham Township residents generally are served by a variety of recreational programs, although scattered widely across the region. Thus, transportation becomes a significant potential limiting factor, particularly for youth and senior citizens who may be transportation dependent. The Township may consider means to encourage program locations within or very near to East Nottingham and to promote development of safe pedestrian and bicycle access. The new High School site and the Gray tracts are well located as future program sites, from the standpoint of serving East Nottingham residents. Other than locational constraints, existing programming agencies appear, collectively, to be offering sufficient recreational opportunities for East Nottingham residents at this time. Most programs are offered based on local demand and, as such, are flexible to meet changing needs over time, to the extent they are not limited by facility constraints. The major limitation to program flexibility would appear to be availability of facilities. Public and private recreation facilities throughout Chester County are heavily utilized at the present time, particularly the schools. Formal establishment of a Township Park and Recreation Committee or Commission could also lead to on-going monitoring of local recreational demand and corresponding opportunities. The Township might seek to point out potential gaps in recreational service to the appropriate agencies. The Township also could assist contact between recreation program agencies, potential users, and those in charge of existing or potentially available facilities, including OARA. OARA also could assume a role in facilitating recreational programs over time. Even with a rapidly growing population, special population groups within the Township are not likely to comprise sufficient numbers to justify provision of highly specialized recreational programming. Recreation Strategies/Recommendations Recommended Policy and Action Land based recommendation (i.e., trails/trail links) should appear on Recreation Recommendations Map. Check with Vince to see if O.S. and Rec. recommendations maps might be combined. Â

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