WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County recognized five individuals, municipal initiatives and development projects on October 15 for contributions to community revitalization, environmental sustainability and responsible growth, marking the return of the Citizen Planner Awards after a six-year interruption.
The awards, presented by the Chester County Planning Commission and Chester County 2020, recognized work in Phoenixville, Kennett Square, Caln Township and Coatesville, along with a development project incorporating historic preservation and floodplain restoration.
The program had not been held since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s recipients represented a range of planning efforts, from private investment and historic rehabilitation to municipal sustainability policies and public park improvements.
Barbara Cohen received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Phoenixville’s redevelopment and preservation efforts.
Her work includes the restoration of the Foundry Building and the historic Colonial Theater, as well as involvement in the Phoenixville Mural Project and Renaissance Park.
Cohen was originally selected for the award in 2020 but received the recognition this year following the program’s interruption.
Michael Bontrager, founder of Square Roots Collective, received the Citizen Planner Award for his involvement in community development and investment across the Kennett area and southern Chester County.
The organization has pursued projects intended to strengthen local communities through coordinated investment and partnerships.
Caln Township received the Innovative Plan Award for its Sustainability Task Force Recommendations, a report establishing measurable actions aligned with Landscapes3, Chester County’s comprehensive plan.
The initiative was recognized for providing a framework that other municipalities could use to address development pressures while incorporating long-term environmental and community resilience goals.
The City of Coatesville and Natural Lands jointly received the Exceptional Project and Organization Award for the first two phases of the Ash Park revitalization.
Their partnership focused on improving recreational facilities, strengthening neighborhood connections and incorporating natural resource protection into the park’s redevelopment.
The Development Excellence Award went to Hankin Group and RGS Associates for Keva Flats, a project combining new development with historic preservation and environmental restoration.
According to the award organizers, the project included Chester County’s first floodplain restoration and the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a cottage and barn dating to 1799.
The recognition reflects the county’s emphasis on development approaches that accommodate growth while preserving historic structures and natural resources.
Chester County 2020 board members Dottie Ives-Dewey, Judy DiFilippo and George Asimos presented the awards alongside Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Matt Edmond and Assistant Director Carol Stauffer.
The two organizations also acknowledged the sponsors and nominators who supported the program’s return.
The recognized projects and initiatives illustrate how public agencies, nonprofit organizations, private developers, and individual residents are influencing land use, redevelopment, and environmental planning across Chester County.
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