County acquires third tract to expand Duff Park in Murrysville

When it comes to Duff Park expansion plans, it's three down, one to go.

Westmoreland County Commissioners last month approved the purchase of about 16.6 acres of land next to the Murrysville park for $35,000 on behalf of the Westmoreland Land Trust. Land trust members plan to combine that land, which was sold by RDE Land Co. of Gibsonia, with three other parcels to expand the 148-acre park.

Theo and Pia van de Venne of Murrysville are donating about 50 acres, which is the largest of the four parcels. A second parcel of about 9 acres was acquired in December 2011.

According to Betsy Aiken, chairwoman of the Murrysville Trail Alliance and a board member of the land trust, county officials are negotiating to buy the last piece, which members of the trust have declined to identify because of the ongoing negotiations.

Westmoreland County is using a $166,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to pay for the properties, which are all contiguous to the park.

“Duff Park is well situated for community use along Turtle Creek and the railways,” Aiken said. “It's a very important piece of land.”

Designated a native wild plant sanctuary by the state, Duff Park is important from an ecological point of view, Aiken said.

“Throughout the 1800s, Pennsylvania forest land was cleared for agriculture, firewood, lumber, and charcoal for industrial uses,” Aiken said. “Duff Park holds one of the few old-growth deciduous forest areas remaining in Pennsylvania.”

The park is considered a passive recreation facility, Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said. Unlike other parks, the greenspace consists only of trails and natural growth. Maintained primarily by volunteers, it's an asset to the community, Morrison said.

“It's a premiere facility, and anytime we have an opportunity to add to it, it's a good thing,” he said. “It's one of the jewels here in Murrysville.”

Daveen Rae Kurutz is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8627.