One of the first things to happen when Dave Schaeffer began working at Chester Bowl was the removal of the out-of-use ski jumps. “Having them come down was a big shift in the history of the park," says Schaeffer who noted that the Chester Bowl logo still highlights the jumps. "We try to also make sure we preserve that history."
The current focus for Schaeffer is the chalet. “We love the chalet,” says Schaeffer. "The building’s a little bit older 50-years old.” The chalet was built by volunteers, and the lifespan of the building is not lasting as long as some other buildings of a similar age. Roof leaks, inaccessibility, and rapid growth with programming necessitate a new space.
The quiet fundraising efforts have been underway for some time, but the public outreach for funds is now beginning in earnest. “The building is about a $2.7 million project," says Schaeffer who is eyeing a federal grant that would cover half the cost, but it comes with a caveat; "We have to raise our half first... in a good situation we could be building three years from now."
"We like to think of this as not a project about a building," says Schaeffer. "In this town, most people have a Chester bowl story, some sort of emotional connection... if that turns into community support... that just keeps the Chester legacy going."
To learn more about the project and to get a tour of the current chalet, visit the Growing Up Chester website.
