A five-year plan for parks development in Fallowfield will be unveiled at a special meeting 7 p.m. July 8 at the municipal building.
The seven-member recreation committee, the supervisors and a consultant are expected to attend.
The township will also seek information on how to foster residential and commercial development.
Supervisor Wilbur D. Caldwell Jr. said the township has plans for both of the its parks.
The park board initially made recommendations for the site at the former Fallowfield Elementary School at the intersection of Florence Drive and Route 481. The other park is near the municipal building.
There are two baseball fields and a picnic pavilion at the Florence Drive park. The park near the municipal building features one baseball field and a picnic pavilion.
Although no specifics have been revealed, Caldwell said last year that the supervisors are considering ballfield improvements and the possible addition of tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, as well as playgrounds, at both sites. A walking track also is possible.
Consultant HRG has completed a proposed layout for the park. The firm has also developed a five-year plan to phase in the improvements and estimated associated costs.
Pashek and Associates, a landscape architecture firm, is working on grant applications to provide money for the project.
The township has yet to identify money for the parks plan, although an application for a $250,000 state Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program grant will be submitted June 30.
Caldwell said the cost of the parks initiative will be revealed July 8.
In early 2014, the supervisors commissioned two studies.
The Delta Development Group Inc. was hired to form a development strategy plan at a cost of $17,140 plus expenses.
The Mechanicsburg company was also hired to develop a first-phase work statement for parks and recreation at a cost of about $7,500. Daniel Santoro, director of land development for Cranberry-based HRG, completed that study.
The Delta study found that parks were considered important by township residents who responded to its survey, but that more than two in three people go outside the municipality for recreation.
Five in six respondents said they support committing public money to recreation.
The study results released last September by Delta Development were less optimistic regarding potential development. It suggested the township lacked the spending power and capacity to generate commercial development.
Undaunted, the supervisors have sought direction from a group of property owners, developers and business people, as well as planning commission members.
“We've had two meetings with that group so far to see if there is anything from township side we can do to encourage development,” Caldwell said.
“A part of working through that study is to see what we can do to create some development.”
He said the effort is in the planning stage. “The ultimate goal is to entice development,” he added.
Caldwell declined to identify members of the group. But at some time, a formal plan will be developed and released for public perusal.
Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or cbuckley@tribweb.com.
