It’s not just a Local Yokel that knows and experiences the outdoors in the area parks….
You can experience them with me!
All the townships in Chester County have their own flavor of community parks with walking trails, preservation areas, soccer fields (especially full on Saturdays!), tennis courts, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc. There are also beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania; and I can’t forget the one National Park in Chester County.
I enjoy experiencing the different flavor of the parks in the surrounding areas of the Delaware Valley and try to change the place for my walks.
My favorite parks in CHESTER COUNTY:
Downingtown Borough: Kerr Park occupies a lot of space in my childhood memory bank. The tennis courts are still there that I used to keep myself occupied while “Mom” played. Kerr Park is where many of the festivities for Good Neighbor Day take place. The All-Abilities Playground is also a big hit!
East Brandywine Township: Community Park. They just added more fields and the walking trails go on and on... This is where I walk most often, due to convenience to my house :) You can catch entire families exercising and playing ball together many evenings. The energy is phenomenal. We often chase the ball around play tennis here.
East Caln Township: Bell Tavern Park is the place to be on hot weather days! The playground is one of the best in the area (even with sprinklers during the heat) and picnic tables come in handy. There is a sand
volleyball court, roller hockey rink, tennis courts, and walking trail as well.
East Goshen Township: The East Goshen Township Park is located off of Paoli Pike and spans for 55 acres. They have tennis, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, putting green, totlot/playground, fitness trail.
I found myself during my walk removing my i-pod headphones to listen to the birds singing to me! They have a bird watching guide and preservation area around the fitness trail.
French Creek State Park: French Creek is our local get-away spot. Camping is offered and you can feel like you are miles away! Home to two lakes and 40 miles of hiking trails. There is a Frisbee golf course, pavilions, and geocaching available.
Hibernia Park (County) Park: Over 900 acres of trails, woodlands, fishing, picnics, camping – PLUS a 90
acre lake for small fishing and boating. There is a historic mansion, Hibernia Mansion (Built around 1744) which is also located in the park and available for limited tours.
Marsh Creek Lake State Park: This park includes 1,705 acres which includes a 535-acre Lake. Windsurfing, Boating, Kayaking, Fishing, Swimming are all some of the highlights of the park.
(An interesting tidbit about Marsh Creek Lake State Park. My grandmother’s family home is somewhere in the bottom of the lake – taken over by imminent domain.)
Tredyffrin Township: Their parkland has over 345 acres dedicated for parks. Wilson Park (90 acres) is located in Chesterbrook and has an All Abilities Playground, putting green, volleyball, and all sorts of sports fields.
Wait! You can’t leave the Local Yokel Tour of Chester County Parks yet……
Chester County also boasts to be the home of The Valley Forge National Park, one of the most famous parks in the world.
Video Courtesy of MrKlaffdotcom
Valley Forge Park not only memorializes the sacrifices and perseverance of the 
Revolutionary War generation during the encampment of 1777, but there are stories told, tours given, re-enactments lived, and collections displayed.
Valley Forge Park includes cell-phone guided tours, and also story telling benches (a storyteller begins telling a 5 minute story when one approaches the bench), trolley tours, after hour
tours, Guided Walks, Gallery Talks, Vault Tours, and special events taking place year round. During your visit you most likely will spot at the least deer, and quite possibly other wildlife including fox.
Trail System – Hiking, Horseback Riding, Biking, you can do it all within the Valley Forge Park at different designated areas. 28 miles of authorized trails are located within the park boundaries. There are 19 miles of marked hiking trails designated just for hiking.
The beauty of Chester County abounds when you take a look at the parks. The rolling hills are home to parks that make you feel like you are in the deep forest (French Creek); relax by the water and sunbathe like you are on the beach (Marsh Creek); and get your fill of history lessons while going back in time (Valley Forge).
Chester County, Pennsylvania, a great place to call home, abounding in parks and outdoor recreation.
Are you relocating to Chester County, Pennsylvania?
I’d love to help.
Kim, what a great area to live and experience all those parks. My family and I visited Valley Forge and we all loved it. I bought the print and it hangs over my fireplace with George Washington kneeling in prayer. Valley Forge is a place everyone should visit.
Kim, I have never gotten to experience the area. It sounds like you don't run out of things to do! Excellent post and very informative.
Later in the rain~Deb
Kim - great Localism post! Lots of information along with your personality. Love how you incorporated the video.
Wow! After reading this I feel like I could spent a week's vacation in your area.
Great job kim!!
Excellent submission..biting my nails already! :)
Yay, Kim!! What great information you've got here!! Sounds like you really know your local parks! :)
(But I'm left feeling sorry for your Grandma's family home!)
Kim, you must love where you live. With all the parks and outdoor recreation that's available, what's not to love!
Missy, Come back! Ok, it's still the same, but still ....
Deb, Come! hee hee
Jo, Thank you! I got my flip on the day of my submission, I wished I could have done my own!
Vickie, Thanks, Vickie! I do love it - and I frequent the parks... can you tell?
Jeanette, Why thank you, My Lady!
Midori, It's that time again, while we await King Rich...
Sarah, Thanks, Sarah! I hope to get you up here someday. It's interesting she doesn't talk about it much, it must affect her in some ways. Nor does she ever (has she ever) wanted to do anything around the Lake.
Darlene, I do, that's for sure, and I didn't even get to all of the parks in the area. Those were just a touch!
good job mommyy :) haha love you!
excellent job! Makes me want to tour all the parks of Chester County!
Kayla, Why thank you for dropping by, Princess. All the way from your Martha's Vineyard vacation!!!
Kristin, The parks are gorgeous around Chester County! Exploring walking trails has been fun! Playground exploring would be great as well!!
I loved learning about your parks. I think I might need to take a road trip!
Excellent job with your post. I love your area and I too feel like I would love to visit and do more exploring! That's what a great post does...invites people to do something. Great job, Kim!
Great post, Kim! Makes me want to get out and revisit these places.
Kim... you had me at "local yokel"... Outstanding post!
Just a wonderful post Kim super information and presentation. No one would have any doubts on what they could do for enterainment.
Kim, parks is a great topic for the local area. With all the local, regional, state, and national parks in the D.C./Virginia area, I could probably research and write for days.
Nice job!
Kim- great post...you have lots of patience to look all this up!!! Excellent job!
Monika
I love road trips! I feel very lucky to live around such lovely places :)
Karen
Thank you so much! I'm glad you want to come! I think it must have worked then - at least on you :) haha.
Tom & Sandy
Thanks! You should go revisit! And you could go with a plan of walking, pictures, tennis.... or explore others and let me know about them!
Debbie
I would have to give Rich credit for the Local Yokel part :) I tried to incorporate his assignment into the post :)
Chris
Awh, thanks, Friend! I appreciate your kind words - and your visit :)
Brian
I racked my brain for a topic! It was hard getting the post "short" enough, I could go on and on and on when it comes to talking about Chester County area!
Joshua
Patience? Or competitive spirit? haha. I like to do things pretty "all the way" if I'm going to do them. Readers want information all in one easy place - hopefully they'll find it on my blog :)
Kim, What a beautiful area you live in. You certainly drew a picture in my mind. I can see the parks and hear the birds singing. I loved reading about your memories and personal ties. How sad about your Grandparents home.
This was a great idea for the contest, and localism in general! Can't wait to hear what your other idea was. I bet it was a good one! I did the 3 day Stay-cation...Surprised me how much we could do for a family of 4.
Excellent post for local flavor! Looks like you've got some great parks and a super community!
What a great post Kim. Sounds like a great area to live in. Parks are so important to improve your quality of life.
Kim - you did a great job on this post and it brings back memories of living in West Chester and Deleware County. I love visiting my family there and hope we'll get to meet in person on my next visit!!
Great job and a lot of work too. I like the fact that you incorporated photos, great content, links, and video all in the same post!