Case Study — Open Space, Quality of Place, and the Chester County Economy
A documentation of the economic benefits of protected open spaces in Chester County, such as those measures contained within this report, would not be complete without making the connection between those parks, preserves, trails, and farms and the high quality of place that Chester County's residents and businesses enjoy and experience.
Chester County is one of the most highly desirable locations in the nation for individuals and businesses in part because of Chester County's preservation and open space heritage. While not as easily measured as some of the other items described in the Return on Environment report, quality of place plays an increasingly important role in the ability of companies to attract and retain top level talent.
Chester County has the kinds of quality of place amenities that the new generation of workers value: walkable downtowns, trails, parks, preserves and lots of open space.
Why is this factor more critical than ever? As the world of work in the 21st century continues to evolve, the pendulum now favors the employee side of the equation. The historical model of finding a job and then moving to a community close to the job is being upended by a generation of workers whose first decision becomes choosing a desirable place to live for themselves and their families—and then securing a job.
This is especially true for the top level of talent. In a world where the best workers are in great demand, companies are learning that their location — in terms of quality of place — is a primary factor in recruitment and retention.
This trend is augmented by the increasing opportunities for workers to perform their jobs remotely — often from home — which adds increased importance to the quality of place factor.
Communities that have—and can sustain—a high quality of place become a significant asset to companies in the perpetual need to attract and retain the best talent possible. And in choosing their business locations, these companies bring the jobs and the tax base—and the economic diversity—that is the lifeblood of a healthy local economy.
The perspective of local business leaders corroborates this:
"CTDI and the Parsons Family applaud the collective efforts of the state, county and local agencies to preserve open space in Chester County. From our beginnings 44 years ago, CTDI has always been proud that Chester County is home to our global headquarters. We know that beautiful and abundant open space adds to the unmatched quality of living and the outstanding working environment that Chester County provides."
— Jerry Parsons, Chairman & CEO, CTD
Chester County's historic and ongoing investment in open space preservation has long been lauded for its success — for its contributions to preserving farmland, for providing substantial environmental benefits, for securing scenic landscapes, and for guaranteeing its citizens a broad array of high quality outdoor recreation activities. It shouldn’t be surprising that these same preservation efforts — as the foundation of quality of place measures — have been hugely influential in contributing to the strength of the Chester County economy as well.
