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Once again we urge residents of Chadds Ford Township to attend a meeting of the Open Space Committee for their own benefit.As the committee did in December last, it is again holding a major informational meeting to review what it has done so far in developing an official open space plan and to get feedback from residents. This month's meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday June 14, in the lecture room at the Brandywine River Museum. Weather permitting, there will be a nature walk along the creek from the museum to the Chadds Ford Historical Society before the meeting, beginning at 6 p.m.

As reported, the committee is roughly two-thirds to three-fourths complete in developing a plan it will send to the Planning Commission for review before it goes to the Board of Supervisors for a vote. Township officials have said they want to have a plan approved by the end of the year. The township must have an official plan adopted before it can legally spend the money it's been collecting in open space taxes for the last 18 months.

Whether residents want to walk in the green or if they want to see more shopping centers and housing developments along Route 1, or something in between, they should attend the meeting to learn first hand what may be offered and to voice their opinion. What they hear that night just may become an official guideline for the township. Whatever open space plan is finally adopted will become part of the new comprehensive plan, once that is updated.

And that plan may include specific ideas that some may not like. One such idea is the establishment of hiking trails in the township. A previously considered trail plan, Rails-to-Trails, was shot down years ago, but ideas and attitudes change. Committee members revealed during the December meeting that that majority of residents who responded to an open space survey said they specifically do wants trails now.

And what of passive open space? If open space money goes toward the purchase of easements and development rights, the people who are paying to keep those areas green may not have any access to, or be able to use those pieces of property in any way. They'll remain private property in the hands of the owners. That's good for the property owners, but may not be so good for those who will pay without getting anything back in return.

It is public money that will be used for open space initiatives, whether those initiatives are for the purchase of development rights or the outright purchase of property. Members of the public should, therefore, definitely take the opportunity to have their say from now until the plan is adopted and beyond.

There's a better chance of being heard in Chadds Ford than in Harrisburg or Washington. But if people don't attend, don't express their opinions, they will get only what those who do speak out want.