WEST CHESTER — With the May 31 lifting of PA COVID-19 restrictions announced by the State earlier this week, members of Restore Chester County urge county residents to complete a brief survey to gauge willingness to participate in activities and events over the summer and fall seasons. The five-minute survey will help to determine what residents now believe is needed to ensure comfort in enjoying the wonderful restaurants, businesses, activities and events in Chester County. It can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/chescocitizensurvey.
Members of the Chester County Commissioners’ COVID-19 Business Task Force representing the county’s municipalities, travel, hospitality and tourism sectors, non-profits and other community groups initially came together to review the COVID-19 mitigation measures affecting summer and fall events. Governor Wolf’s lifting of all restrictions on May 31, apart from mask wearing, now makes the Restore Chester County survey even more important to complete.
“Now that our restaurants and bars, small businesses, community organizations and municipalities know that they can, in essence, ‘go back to normal’, it is even more important to understand what direction they should take based on everyone’s actual desire to venture out, dine out, attend events and shop local,” said Cheryl Kuhn, President & CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce and member of the Restore Chester County committee.
“This quick survey – just 11 very succinct but important questions – will help us to understand what hesitations there may be, and what it will take to ensure greater confidence in safety, especially as more and more residents become vaccinated,” added Laurie Ryan, President of the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce.
The survey is anonymous and asks how likely you are to participate in eating outdoors or indoors at a restaurant, attending an outdoor or indoor community event, attending a sporting event, or shopping at a small or large store. It also asks what safety measures may influence your decision to participate in an event.
KC Kulp, owner of The Whip Tavern and Chair of the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors, said “Like all restaurant and hospitality business owners, I’m anxious to take this next step toward unrestricted operations. We want to continue to provide the safest possible atmosphere to protect both our customers – and especially – our employees. This survey will prove to be an invaluable resource in making that happen.”
Bill Martin, Tredyffrin Township Manager and Restore Chester County member commented, “Prior to the pandemic, Chester County’s residents and visitors to the county enjoyed community day events, fundraiser dinners, carnivals, and 5K events hosted by municipalities, civic organizations and non-profits. Now that we have the go-ahead to try and organize some of these events for the summer and fall, we need to be sure that the hundreds of volunteer hours that will go into planning and organizing will be met with a high level of willingness to attend.
“Feedback from this survey will help to steer us in our decision-making.”
The Restore Chester County survey deadline is Friday, May 14th. Results of the survey will follow, by May 24th.
For more information about Restore Chester County, go to www.restorechestercounty.org.
