Reigniting Nature-Based Place Making in the Pottstown Area

Nature-Based Place Making Steering Committee Meeting in full swing

The Pottstown Area Regional Recreation Committee (PARRC) is reigniting the Nature-Based Place Making (NBPM) Project in partnership with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC). The NBPM approach focuses on leveraging local outdoor assets, including parks, trails, and recreation areas, to support economic development and strengthen connections between the region’s natural spaces and downtown businesses. For the Pottstown area, regional recreation assets include the Schuylkill River, the Schuylkill River Trail, major community parks, the Althouse Arboretum, the Carousel at Pottstown, and more. The NBPM project is made possible through a grant from the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF).

A Steering Committee was convened to help guide the project, consisting of municipal staff and officials, members of the business community, and staff from PARRC and PRCF. In 2025, focus groups were held with the public and project stakeholders to gather input on recreation and economic development-related issues in the region. After the focus groups were completed, Julie Fitzpatrick, PDC Executive Director and Tricia McCloskey, PARRC's Regional Recreation Planner visited with each PARRC municipality to discuss recreation and economic development opportunities specific to the community. In 2026, Steering Committee meetings resumed at PRCF. The most recent meeting was held in October where PDC presented demographic and market research data that provided insights into the region's household types, spending habits, buying power, and types of retail stores. This data will assist communities in determining how to attract new recreation-related businesses.

The next steps include a public survey, public workshop, and additional Steering Committee meetings.