As the leaves begin to change, Chester becomes increasingly busy on weekends. From the end of August to early November, locals observe tourists popping in and out of the shops on Main Street, bags filled to the brim with apples, and Chester Borough traffic worsening. People from in and out of state rush to local farms, such as Alstede’s Farm, Ort Farm, Stony Hill Farm, and Riamede Farm, to pick fresh apples, pumpkins and enjoy a nice walk through Chester’s historic Main Street each weekend.
What may seem like a nice fall tradition for families can also be a nuisance for Chester locals.
The local brewery, Burnt Mills, on Route 206, attracts many visitors with its picturesque landscape, its hard cider, and the assorted food trucks that are brought in. Parking is constantly an issue, as their lot quickly fills up. People then start parking on the grass between their fence and the busy road past the brewery for several hundred feet before and after the entrance. The place is so busy that customers have no choice but to park there if there are no other spaces within their lot available. Though they are only open from Wednesday to Sunday, this dilemma creates worrisome driving conditions for the passersby on Route 206. People walk along the grass and the shoulder, making it dangerous for drivers to pull into the shoulder in the event of an emergency.
Similarly, Alstedes Farm creates lots of traffic starting past the Chester Library, as cars switch into the turning lane near the entrance. Cones have been set up to help regulate traffic. Within the farm, additional parking has been added within the past few years in their fields behind the main building in order to accommodate their visitors.
In 2014, a two-year-old girl was killed at Alstede’s by a shuttle van. The tragic incident led to a lawsuit, in which the driver of the van pleaded guilty. According to “Driver of van that hit, killed little girl at pumpkin farm pleads guilty” from ABC7 NY, Chester police try to handle traffic and parking at the farm, but it remains difficult since the farm is private property.
Even on Main Street, the weekends bring hectic congestion. Dangers remain for pedestrians attempting to cross the busy road. However, improvements have been made to some of the sidewalks within the past year or two, which have been helpful in the protection of walkers.
On a lighter note, in a conversation about tourism with WMM sophomore and Chester resident Sarah Hayes, she added, “I think that it has a really good influence over the small businesses.” She plays an active role at Alstede’s Farm, as her stepfather, Kurt Alstede, is one of the owners. “There are a lot of things to offer,” she said. She described how many people like to walk the corn maze, hold parties, pick fruits and vegetables, browse the market, and end the day with some ice cream. She added, “I think this year [the tourism] has been more tame. I think we’re finally getting a handle on the traffic issue.” Overall, she described how visitors bring opportunities for growth for all businesses. “It’s been good for Chester,” she said.
