101-Acre Upper Oxford Farm Preserved By Chesco Commissioners

WEST CHESTER, PA – July 20, 2023 – Chester County commissioners this week approved the preservation of the 101-acre Kavanagh Farm in Upper Oxford Township.

The county's Parks and Preservation department partnered with Upper Oxford Township to acquire the easement rights from the estate of Paul A. Kavanagh Jr. at a cost of more than $523,800.

The preservation of the Kavanagh Farm is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment of our community to preserving the farmland,” Commissioners Moskowitz,

Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline said in a joint statement.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Kavanagh family for their stewardship of this land over the past 70 years."

The Kavanagh family purchased the farmland – originally an old grist mill – in 1956, and two generations have farmed the land since then.

Chester County provided 55 percent of the farm preservation funding, with Upper Oxford Township contributing 45%.

A few weeks remain to apply for the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board’s
agricultural land preservation programs – the Commonwealth/County Program and the Chester
County Challenge Grant Program.

To date, these programs have preserved more than 570 farms in Chester County, totaling over 44,000 acres.

Those interested in acquiring Interested farm owners are encouraged to apply by Aug. 4, 2023.

More information is available here.

Geoff Shellington, Chester County Agricultural Programs Coordinator, can be reached at 610-344-6504 or at gshellington@chesco.org.