Brandywine Conservancy Bike The Brandywine Sept. 17 In Chester County

The Brandywine Conservancy will host the inaugural Bike the Brandywine on September 17. Cyclists are invited to explore the scenery, glimpse the history, and discover the lure of the Brandywine Creek on the ride, which benefits the Conservancy’s clean water programs.

The ride consists of a 40- or 80-mile loop through the beautiful Brandywine Creek Greenway in Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Chester County, passing thousands of acres preserved by the Brandywine Conservancy.

The Brandywine is a major source of drinking water for nearly half a million area residents, including Downingtown, Coatesville, West Chester, and Wilmington, Delaware. The Brandywine Conservancy has worked for nearly 50 years to help preserve water quality and quantity in the region.

The ride starts and ends at the Chadds Ford Historical Society (1736 N Creek Road, Chadds Ford, Penn.). Following both the east and west branch of this historic and scenic waterway, the 80-mile ride loops from Chadds Ford all the way to the creek’s headwaters in Honey Brook Township.

The route will return to Chadds Ford along the west branch of the creek, taking riders through iconic western Chester County vistas including the Conservancy’s King Ranch area, with more than 5,300 acres of preserved land.

The 40-mile route also follows both branches of the creek. From Chadds Ford, the route follows the east branch to Downingtown where it crosses through the valley to reach the creek’s west branch in Coatesville.

Riders may register online, and find details about the courses The registration fee is $45 through September 15 at 9 a.m. On-site registration on the day of the ride, or at packet pick-up on 9/16, costs $60 per rider. The fee includes a “Bike the Brandywine” t-shirt. This is a rain or shine event.

Brandywine Creek Greenway

The Brandywine Creek Greenway is a regional planning initiative that connects 25 municipalities in Chester and Delaware counties along both branches of the Brandywine to create a 30-mile conservation and recreation corridor. It stretches from the Delaware state line just south of Chadds Ford to the Pennsylvania Highlands Mega-Greenway near Honey Brook.

The greenway designation highlights the diverse resources of the corridor, provides conservation ideas and encouragement to municipalities and private landowners alike, and builds healthier, more sustainable communities that contribute to the well-being of those who live, work, and visit there.

The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation.

Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever, and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies.

The Conservancy currently holds 470 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 62,000 acres of land.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Brandywine Conservancy website.

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