Those looking for new areas to explore in Chester County are invited to view a new interactive trailfinder map that was unveiled by the Chester County Planning Commission. The map illustrates all the county's publicly accessible trails and nature preserves, representing more than 550 miles of trails. Nearly 70 miles of trails are multi-use, allowing for pedestrians and bicyclists, and are ADA-accessible.
The map was made available last fall, and parking locations were added to the map over the past several weeks.
"We've had the data for a while, but we've updated it and we've gotten the data to a place where we were ready to share it with the public," said Rachael Griffith, Chester County's senior trails and open space planner. She noted that the current "beta version" of the map allows the county to collect feedback on the information and usability of the map. "It is a test of the data and the map interface," she noted.
After accessing the map, visitors can find trails in the county that they may wish to explore. Users can find a trail by name or search by surface type; however, the map does not include most trails within housing developments or short, isolated segments of trails. "If you click on a trail, a box pops up with information on the trail, its surface and what uses are permitted," Griffith noted.
What makes the map interactive is that hikers and walkers who use the trails can add input to the map and provide feedback. Users may rate a favorite trail, add comments, upload images and submit errors.
"We recognize that this is the first time that this map has been released to the public and that data will not be perfect. We want people to explore the trails knowing that," Griffith said. "In the 'About' tab, people can add comments. If there is something that is inaccurate or there is a trail that is not showing, people can add one or add a comment about a specific trail."
For example, she noted, if there is a trail that does not allow horses, but the map indicates that it does, people can leave a comment that the trail's only uses are for walking and biking.
"The more people that add comments, the better the data will be," Griffith stated.
She said that during the pandemic, people in the county frequented the more popular outdoor trails, especially the Chester Valley Trail, which became overcrowded. "This is a good way to let people see what trails are near their house that they may not have been to before or (find) hidden gems," said Griffith.
The Chester County Planning Commission hopes to add additional data and make improvements to the map interface over time and encourages users to provide feedback.
To view the map, visit http://www.chescoplanning.org/transportation/TrailPlanning.cfm and look under "New! - Chester County Trailfinder." Those who have questions or need more information may contact Griffith at rgriffith@chesco.org.
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