(3/13) The Hamiltonban supervisors voted at their March meeting to pursue funding through a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant for proposed Phase III improvements for the Community Park.
The DCNR grant would be a matching grant, meaning the township would have to match the money provided by the state on a 50-50 basis. The total estimated cost of the Phase III improvements will range between $185,000 and $200,000 – amassed through grants and donations - and the completion of the proposed Phase III work at the park is to occur by spring 2022.
The proposed park improvements include adding paving and lines to the parking areas; constructing a small pavilion area by the natural-play area; adding a pickleball court; establishing a second loop of approximately 1,300 feet (1/4 mile) to the existing walking path; restoring the small, front raingarden; erecting a permanent park sign on Bullfrog Road; adding a bench and landscaping around the parking area; and adding a pergola extension to the pavilion.
Other improvements are to include distance-markers along the entire walking path, a covered restroom pavilion that will house portable restrooms, a waterline extension for handwashing at the restroom location, a waterline extension to service the main pavilion, and a pergola extension to the main pavilion, a walking bridge over the pond spillway, and restoration of the raingarden along Bullfrog Road.
Those interested in donating towards this effort may send their tax-deductible contributions to: Hamiltonban Community Park, P.O. Box 526, Fairfield, 17320.
Phase I of the improvement plans for the park was completed sufficiently enough towards the end of 2017 to permit the township to officially open the park to visitors. Projects completed under Phase I included a new play structure, a pavilion, part of the walking path, fencing, and preparatory work for future parts of this project. Phase 1 was completely funded by two grants received from DCNR, and Wellspan Health.
Phase II was initiated in the summer of 2018 and included the completion of a quarter-mile walking-path, five ADA-accessible, adult fitness stations – containing a chest press, lat pull down, balance steps, dual leg-press and a dual ski-walker - a "natural play area" and a swing set, an approximately 11,000 square-foot pollinator meadow, and interpretive signs that denote the importance of the Adams County area culturally, naturally, economically and historically.
All of the phases have been kicked-off with numerous tree-plantings on the park-grounds.
