Delaware County Hosts 48th Annual Preservation Awards and William H. Bates Awards at Redwood Community Center in Upland

Media, PA — Delaware County Council Vice Chair Christine Reuther and Delaware County Planning Department Director Gina Burritt were honored to join Heritage Commission Chair Samuel A. Pickard, Planning Commission Chair John Gillespie, members of the preservation community, municipal representatives, developers, and others, at the Presentation of the 48th Annual Preservation Awards and William H. Bates Awards on Saturday, May 2 at the Redwood Community Center in Upland Park.

The Heritage Preservation awards, first held in 1978, highlight National Preservation Month each May, through the recognition of individuals and groups who are dedicated to preserving Delaware County’s landmarks along with our rich written and verbal history. The Heritage Commission’s mission is to oversee the diverse heritage of Delaware County and to support those organizations within the County that are promoting and preserving the County’s cultural legacy.

The William H. Bates Awards, established in 1980, honor excellence in site planning, development practices, and the innovative use of land resources. The Awards Program was established by the Delaware County Planning Commission with the goal to encourage developers and municipalities to cooperate in providing a more efficient use of land and public services for County residents.

At the Awards, Vice Chair Reuther presented a resolution recognizing May as Historic Preservation Month in Delaware County to the Heritage Commission. Environmental Section Manager Mike Leventry presented the William H. Bates Awards to attendees for Innovative Land Development and Municipal Innovation and Investment. Heritage Commission Chair Samuel A. Pickard presented the Heritage Preservation awards for site preservation, publications, special projects, group and individual achievement, historic preservation planning, the Leedom B. Morrison Heritage Award, the A. Richard Paul Lifetime Achievement Award, and a special Semiquincentennial Award.

A video of the awards ceremony can be found at https://tinyurl.com/BatesHeritageAwards2026

2026 Awards
WILLIAM H. BATES AWARDS
Innovative Land Development

• The Caswell at Runnymeade Farms (GMH Communities)
• WSFS Bank Sportsplex (Philadelphia Union, BPGS Construction, City of Chester, Riverfront Alliance of Delaware
  County (RADC), OSPORTS, Commonwealth of PA, Delaware County Council)

Municipal Innovation and Investment

• Sunset Hill Preserve Trail Plan (Chadds Ford Township)

HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARDS
Site Preservation (Non-residential Rehabilitation) Awards

• Lansdowne Theater (Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects, Columbus
  Construction, JNA Capital, Fattah Capital Advisors)
• Bush Hill Farm Barn Rehabilitation (Concord Township)

Site Preservation (Adaptive Reuse) Awards

• Chester Heights Campmeeting Vintage Ice Cream Shop (Chester Heights Campmeeting Assn., Maria Spagnuolo,
  The Salerno Family, Williamson College of the Trades, The Phillips Family)

Site Preservation (Cemeteries) Awards

• Rockdale Parade- Graves Division (Dave Kelso, John Coleman, Lori Kelso, Mike Archer)

Publication Awards

• Locksley: The Original Black Families of Folsom (Wayne Karl Driver)
  Delaware County Pennsylvania YouTube Videos (Craig Spedden)
• Seasons of Wildflowers: Local Wildflowers and Historic Buildings of Chadds Ford and Concord Townships in
  Pennsylvania (Joyce Wilson)
• The Push of Power (Carla Welsh)
• History, Mystery (Keith Lockhart, Keith Mayer)

Special Project Awards

• History Under the Stars (Delaware County Historical Society)

Individual Achievement

• Professor Edward Worteck

Group Achievement

• Edgmont Township Historical Society

Preservation Planning

• Campbell AME Church Preservation Prioritization Plan (Campbell AME Church; Nate Gotcher, Union Studio
  Architecture & Community Design; Becky Zeller, Zeller Preservation; Suzanna Barucco, SBK + Partners, LLC)
• Archie's Corner Preservation Assessment (Chadds Ford Township)

Leedom B. Morrison Heritage Award

• 'Proof of Truth' Mobile Museum (Twyla Simpkins, Maxine Johnson, The Yes Center, CAAT Center Art Unframed
  Gallery)

Semiquincentennial Award

• John Morton Monument Experience - America250 Restoration (PSSDAR, Marguerite Fritsch, Barbara Shaw,
  Christie Cole Logan, Scott Logan)

A. Richard Paul Lifetime Achievement

• Helen Sipala
• Thomas R. Smith

Thank you to the members of the Delaware County Council, Delaware County Planning Department, Delaware County Heritage Commission, Delaware County Planning Commission, local municipalities, historical societies, and individuals from the community who are dedicated to preserving and honoring the historic sites and pursuing excellence in planning in the County.