Chester Creek Trail Mural Dedication
This morning Delaware County Councilwoman Elaine Schaefer joined local artist Jay Walker, Kelly Johnson of the Friends of the Chester Creek Branch (FCCB), Veronica Batter of the Rockdale Arts District/Rockdale Arts Center, and Marc Manfre, Director of Delaware County Parks & Recreation to dedicate a new mural along the Chester Creek Trail in Lenni.
“This is the kind of collaboration that makes something that is already a valuable public asset and turns it into a really cherished public treasure,” said Councilwoman Schaefer. “People are really starting to understand the value that trails bring to our mental and physical health, not to mention the economic benefits that trails bring to the community through increased property values throughout the region.”
Titled “Patterns (Chester Creek Trail),” the mural is a 450-foot expanse of color adorning a support wall that runs along the defunct Civil War-era Chester Creek Branch line of the Pennsylvania Railroad near Lungren Road. Undulating lines of green and blue now greet trail-goers, replacing what had been a dull gray slab of concrete.
“I wanted to create something that didn’t necessarily tell a story,” explained Mr. Walker, an Aston-based based multi-disciplinary artist. “When I walk the trail, I really like the to see nature—the grass, the water, and how the colors move and come together. I wanted this mural to contribute to that orchestra, if you will, and not detract but instead add to that experience.”
Thank you to the McKee Group, Nolan Painting, Sherman Williams, SEPTA, and Middletown and Aston Townships for their input, funding, materials, and countless hours of volunteer support under the direction of FCCB and the Parks and Recreation Department to make this beautiful vison come alive!
For more information about the Chester Creek Rail Trail, including historical pictures from the area, information on access and parking, and plans for ongoing expansion, visit https://chestercreektrail.org/about/
