Creekfest aims to educate
People are trying to prevent Slippery Rock Creek from being polluted. But that mission is more than just a legal battle.
The group Save Slippery Rock Creek was formed in 2020 after residents heard that township supervisors were considering the approval of an asphalt plant on Stoughton Road. Over the weekend, the group held its second annual event to focus on raising awareness for the issue.
Creekfest 2022 took place Sunday at Rock Falls Park. Chris Coleman, president of Save Slippery Rock Creek, said it was an opportunity for people to appreciate the stream.
“The primary purpose is to raise awareness of issues with Slippery Rock Creek and its possible pollution,” Coleman said. “We want to organize more to creek cleanup and creek maintenance time, just trying to get more and more involved.”
The legal battle around the asphalt plant proposed by Heilman Pavement Specialties has been ongoing since 2020. Save Slippery Rock Creek, which Coleman said is waiting for approval on its nonprofit status, is fighting a special exception approved by the township Zoning Hearing Board for the plant to operate on Stoughton Road.
Coleman said the next big event in the legal process is a hearing in February regarding the special exception granted to the asphalt plant, which Save Slippery Rock Creek appealed.
Coleman said efforts organized by Save Slippery Rock Creek are meant to not only raise money for the group’s legal fees, but also to involve more people in preserving and caring for the creek.
“Yes, we are fighting (an) asphalt plant, and we need financial help, no doubt,” Coleman said. “At some point this fight is going to end, so we want to be bigger than that.”
Coleman said the organization mainly communicates through its Facebook page, and its leaders are considering hosting more get-togethers to educate the public about the issues surrounding Slippery Rock Creek.
“We're trying to make this a multiple front fight,” Coleman said. “As far as raising awareness, I would say Creekfest did a wonderful job of that. Everybody said they had a good time.”
