Adding parks in Forks could be fun and games
Plan to build six facilities wouldn't cost taxpayers.
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Ever since he became a Forks Township supervisor, David Howell wanted to see neighborhood parks, not only to provide recreational facilities within developments but to relieve some of the demands on the Community Park.
He and Supervisor Robert Egolf presented a proposal Thursday night to the supervisor board, calling for six play lots for toddlers to 12-year-olds at a cost of $174,599. Both are members of the township parks and recreation committee.
Howell emphasized no taxpayer dollars would be used. The money, he said, would come from the recreation fees paid by developers for the past several years and kept in a restricted account.
That account has about $2 million, according to Finance Manager James Farley.
The parks would be located in the Penn's Ridge development at W. Newlins Road and Penn's Ridge Boulevard, Sullivan Trail south of Braden Air Park, Vista Estates at Winchester and Upper Way roads, Lafayette/Meco Park at Richmond Road near Meco Road, Gollub Park at the end of Valley View Road and Ramblewood East in the 120 block of Ramblewood Road.
Common to each play lot would be picnic tables, benches and swing sets. The neighborhood park for the Lafayette/Meco development would also include rest rooms, a fitness station, bike racks, a dog park and charcoal grills.
Play structures for toddlers and the 5- to 12-year-olds would be installed at the lots in Penn's Ridge, Sullivan Trail, Vista Estates and Ramblewood East.
A basketball court would be included at Penn's Ridge and bike racks at most of the smaller parks.
''The growth of our community necessitates this expansion to meet the needs of the increased number of families moving into the township,'' Howell said. He also said the smaller parks would take the pressure off Community Park and its parking facilities. Community Park is at the municipal building and is the township's only park.
The neighborhood parks would be on township property set aside by the original developers for open space and recreational purposes.
These parks, Howell said, would help Forks to be viewed as a ''small town with a town-like feel as best we can make it.''
''Neighborhood parks will foster the socialization of neighbors and create a sense of pride in the community.''
