Penn Twp. park about to grow
PENN TWP — Harcrest Park is expanding its amenities with pavilions and a playground.
Township Supervisor Doug Roth said construction is set to begin this spring at the park, which is at the corner of Three Degree and Brownsdale roads.
“We're pretty excited,” he said.
The $540,000 construction cost is partially funded by a $270,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources matching grant.
The township's half was covered by natural gas drilling impact fee revenue, donations and other grant funding.
The township bought the 49 acres from the Hartzell family in 2007.
The work will comprise a quarter of the total development planned for the park.
“It's still in the infancy,” Roth said.
The park already has a small gazebo, outdoor volleyball court, horseshoe pits and mowed-in walking trails.
Gary Pinkerton, director of Butler County Parks and Recreation, said the overall plan for the park is comprehensive.
“It's going to be a nice project,” Pinkerton said.
Wendy Leslie, county Community Development Block Grant administrator, agreed.
“They had a vision,” Leslie said. “It was just a matter of funding.”
Along with adding more amenities to the park, it will be made handicap-accessible.
The county commissioners on Wednesday are set to vote on reallocating $73,969 of the township's 2015 CDBG funding for housing rehab to do the work.
The CDBG funding would be part of the township's matching $270,000.
Leslie said part of the gravel surface, which prohibits wheelchair access to the volleyball court, pavilion and horseshoe pits, needs smoothed and paved.
“We need to level those spots,” she said.
The paved areas would include handicapped parking spaces and walkways.
Roth credited Pinkerton and Leslie for helping the township secure grant funding for the park.
