Zelie, Jackson anticipate DCNR funds for parks
Two southwestern Butler County municipalities may see improvements funded through a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant program in the upcoming year.
Jackson Township received $224,400 for further development of the Jackson Township Park, described as including “construction of pedestrian walkway and concession/comfort station; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements” in the DCNR announcement.
Zelienople is to receive $50,000 for rehabilitation of Zelienople Community Park, which will include “renovation of amphitheater; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.”
The Jackson grant will benefit the construction of a concession stand and attached restrooms within Sippel Reservoir Park, Jackson township manager Chris Rearick said in an email.
"We plan to construct the concession stand and pedestrian and ADA access to it directly north of the recently installed playground, and between the soccer fields and the existing trail loop, which ultimately connects to the Harmony Trail to the north and Township businesses and Zelienople’s Main Street to the southwest of the site,“ he said.
The township will move forward to put together a final design of the building, Rearick said, in the hopes of constructing it sometime in 2023.
“The Township is pleased to receive this substantial award, which represents the third phase of grant funding for Sippel Reservoir Park,” Rearick said. “We are particularly excited about this phase, as the addition of a formal concession stand and restrooms helps to advance not only the development of planned amenities in the park, but the development of facilities that advance use of the park for a broader range of community activities, including shared activities with our neighboring boroughs.”
In Zelienople, the funds will go towards upgrades for the amphitheater, making it easier for spectators to sit on the hillside, said borough manager Don Pepe.
"The grant would be helping us to be able to do the seating area along the Amphitheater hillside. It needs to be terraced,” he said. “Right now, it’s just a hillside, and it’s difficult for people to be able to sit, especially with chairs. I don’t have the final design yet.”
The borough will now need to pin down specifications and put the project out to bid, Pepe said.
"What I would like to do is have the construction done in the spring (2023) and get it finished before the summer,” he added.
Zelienople has benefited from other DCNR grants in past years, Pepe said.
“It’s for any type of parks and recreation projects, to improve your parks and recreation facilities,” he said. “We had a DCNR grant to do a (comprehensive) plan for the park, and we had some smaller ones to get some things done.”
