Last weekend, Bike Kennett, a subsidiary of Bike Chester County (which is an affiliate of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia), hosted a ride to support a grant that would bring $1 million to the borough.
The grant $1 million grant would complete a project that will connect the parks (Anson B Nixon and Pennock), connect the YMCA to the Y pool, and connect schools and neighborhoods to the downtown area. The project is a combination of on-road facilities, sidewalk improvements, and intersection treatments focused on both bicycle and pedestrian circulation. It was completed last week and would be the first project of the Kennett Active Transportation Plan.
Last weekend, the grant was introduced to the community, bringing about 40 residents together for a community ride and event along the areas that will potentially see progress.
Several children, between 8 and 11 years old, rode down Main Street in Kennett Square, accompanied by a police car and with several volunteer bicyclists to keep them safe. The group rode four miles.
“When we got back we had free locally made Mompops popsicles for everyone, which of course was a big hit,” says Josie Marsh, head of Bike Kennett. “Afterwards I had some say that the ride helped them to have confidence to ride on the street. Someone asked when we’ll know if we got the grant or not. One man offered to get involved to help raise funds for the street upgrade project.”
Marsh calls the event “a big success,” and notes, “We couldn’t have done the ride without the support of both the Kennett Borough Police and the Kennett Township Police departments, The Borough of Kennett (who put in a last minute asphalt ramp over a curb for us), Kennett Township (who bought the popsicles) and the Bike Kennett volunteers.”