Delaware County residents who have circled the Chester Creek Trailhead parking lot looking for one of its nine spaces now have room to park.

The county completed a $378,960 expansion of the Knowlton Road trailhead in Media, more than doubling parking capacity according to the county and adding ADA-accessible parking spaces and improved trail entrances. Officials cut the ribbon on the finished project Tuesday.

The upgrades also include new drainage infrastructure at the lot, which sits at 249 W. Knowlton Road. Construction began Monday, May 11, and the lot was closed on weekdays during the roughly three-month build.

Who paid for it

The entire project was funded by a state Local Share Account grant secured by State Rep. Leanne Krueger, who represents the 161st Legislative District, and State Sen. John Kane of the 9th Senate District. The LSA program distributes gaming revenue to local projects.

"These renovations will improve accessibility to the Chester Creek Trail for years to come, allowing more Delco residents to enjoy the beauty of our county," Delaware County Council member Elaine Paul Schaefer said at the July 21 ceremony. "I want to thank everyone who has delivered these improvements to our residents, from the Planning Department to our partners in the Delco Delegation in Harrisburg."

Council member Joanne Phillips credited the council for prioritizing outdoor spaces across the county.

Regional trail context

The Chester Creek Trail is a 2.75-mile paved path managed by Delaware County, running through Middletown and Aston townships. It does not directly connect to Radnor or Haverford, but it is part of the Circuit Trails network, which also includes the Radnor Trail in Radnor Township. Planners aim to link those trails over time as part of a system targeting more than 850 miles across Greater Philadelphia.

Chester Creek Trail is also part of the East Coast Greenway, which will eventually connect communities from Florida to Maine.

The Delaware County Planning Department oversaw pre-construction work, and the Public Works Department managed the build. The Friends of Chester Creek, a nonprofit that has advocated for trail improvements for more than 30 years, lobbied for the parking expansion.

The county's planning department is also exploring extending the Chester Creek Trail through Toby Farms in Chester Township and Upland Borough, though no timeline or funding has been announced.