The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Chester County, PA

ESI was commissioned by the Natural Lands Trust, the Chester County Planning Commission and a coalition of funders and business leadership to update a 2010 report on the economic value of open space in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Since the original report, the amount of protected open space has increased significantly to 208.01 square miles.

Our report found that open space adds economic value in four major ways:

• Home and property values
• Economic activity
• Environmental services
• Direct use benefits – health and recreation

This study concluded that investments in open space preservation support the Chester County economy by increasing property values, supporting economic activity, reducing environmental costs, and supporting a healthier populace.