PENN TWP — Dale Hartzell sold land at the corner of Brownsdale and Three Degree roads to the township in 2007 for a park, and he still cares what happens to it.

The home he was born in is still there, the centerpiece of a Butler County Century Farm operated by his family since 1844. His daughter and her husband still live on the property.

"I don't want to see it all become housing," Hartzell said. "We had more than 200 open acres there at one time."

Hartzell was one of about 20 people in attendance Thursday when HRG Engineers presented its final plan for the park at the corner of Brownsdale and Three Degree Roads to township officials.

The park will be named Harcrest Park after the dairy farm operated there by the Hartzells.

The plan is based on four concept drawings presented to residents at an April 30 meeting, as well as feedback from questionnaires mailed to township residents this year.

"It was through that survey that we were able to see what facilities the citizens of this township wanted to see developed," said Jim Feath, a landscape architect with HRG Engineers and project manager for the park.

The final plan is the next step for a park that is part of Butler's Multi-Municipal Plan, which includes the creation of parks in several municipalities.

Harcrest Park will have 47.5-acres. Its final plan includes multiple trail types, from hiking and bicycling to walking; picnic shelters; playgrounds; basketball courts, and a sledding area.

Also included are a pair of level, multiuse lawn areas; a sand volleyball court; a one-acre man-made pond; horseshoe pits, and a "multigenerational playscape."

The playscape would include play equipment for all ages, from toddlers to adolescents, and even exercise equipment for adults.

The area is mostly fields, with some forested areas, bisected north-to-south by a stream and a second stream running east to west along its northern border.

Feath and Jim Watenpool, a parks and recreation professional, presented with the plan a six-phase construction schedule.

The first phase, which includes parking areas, several trails, restrooms, a playground and infrastructure items such as electrical hookup, sewage and stormwater management, is the priciest at $1.18 million.

Its development is planned for fall 2010, based upon funds becoming available.

HRG and the township intend to apply next April for a state Department of Natural Resources matching grant, and they hope to get funds to match the state's contribution by fundraising and donations.

Watenpool said the park plan is a long-term one that is likely to be completed over two decades at a total cost of about $3.8 million.

That cost could be offset, however, by community donations of cash, volunteer labor and materials.