Penn Twp. spruces up park, seeks grant support
Work on Harcrest Park in Penn Township is continuing as more residents can be found there enjoying outdoor activities during the coronavirus stay-at-home order.
The 50-acre park, which is the former farm of Dale and Betty Hartzell, is on Three Degree Road near the intersection at Brownsdale Road.
Township Supervisor Doug Roth said Thursday that ornamental and shade trees were planted this week along the park's walking trails, and screening trees were placed at the park's boundaries.
The 40 trees are part of the second of three phases of development at the park, Roth said.Continued work on the park is largely dependent on the township receiving a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant it will apply for in a few weeks.Roth said letters supporting the park are needed from residents for the grant application to increase the township's chances of receiving the funds.Residents can email letters supporting the park to Lance Welliver, Butler County Parks and Recreation director, at lwellive@co.butler.pa.us by April 20.
Roth and Scott Gumto, a township parks and recreation committee member, said they are delighted to see the increased use of the park since Gov. Tom Wolf added Butler County to the growing list of counties under the stay-at-home order in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.Wolf encouraged outdoor recreation in small groups and at a distance from others as part of the stay-at-home order.“I think it's great,” Roth said. “I think it's taken off even more than I expected it to.”Gumto said most of the work so far at the park has been completed by his committee, supervisors and the township public works employees.He said Boy Scout Troop 53 has completed numerous projects at the park, including the installation of the volleyball court, disc golf course, horseshoe pits, birdhouses, and trees.The troop also completed an upgrade of the park's gazebo.Gumto said the next project is to dig out some of the walking trails and place milled asphalt in preparation for the trails to be paved.“It's a great asset to the community,” Gumto said of the park.
