Evan Kremer, 5, of Penn Township snorkels in August 2008 at the South East Butler County (SEBCO) community swimming pool in Laura J. Doerr Park in Jefferson Township. Built in the 1960s, the park is the oldest in the southeast region of Butler County.

A chance for recreation or the ability to spend time in green space are part of a community's quality of life.

Butler County's southeastern corner has both old parks and new parks for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Unfortunately, Buffalo Township has no community parks.

The Laura J. Doerr Park is the oldest community park in the southeast region.Jefferson Township in 2001 became the sole owner of the park, which is adjacent to what had been the South East Butler County (SEBCO) community swimming pool since the pool was built in the 1960s.The 75-acre park was originally deeded to Jefferson, Winfield and Clinton townships and Saxonburg in 1966, but the joint ownership made it hard to get grants and other funding for park improvements.Township supervisor Jim Jones said in addition to the pool, which was renovated in 2001, the park has two softball fields, five baseball fields four soccer fields, a junior soccer field and three pavilions: The Boy Scouts, the Lions Club and the Saxonburg Women's Club shelters. The park also has restrooms, a locker/shower room inside SEBCO Pool and a playground by the pool.About a year ago, the township completed a comprehensive plan for the township and the park.Jones said the first addition to the park the township is working on is the completion of a walking trail around the perimeter of it."When its all done, it would be about 2 miles long," Jones said. "That's the first thing we can do that won't require a lot of money."The township also would like to add basketball and tennis courts to the park as well as a gazebo/pavilion. Plans for those are under way."It would be built near the pool and could be used for events like weddings," Jones said, adding that Penn United Technologies has made a donation to that project. Additional funds are needed to complete the project."The best thing about the park is that it gets our young people out and moving with more than 400 baseball games, between 150 and 200 softball games and more than 400 soccer matches annually," Jones said.

Roebling Park on North Rebecca Street, between Main and Water streets in Saxonburg, features three acres of grass and woods, with a gazebo-style bandstand that is the site of concerts, meetings and weddings.Benches and picnic tables are throughout the park, as well as a picnic shelter, kitchen and restroom facilities with electric, water and refrigeration for community events as well as for renting.According to Saxonburg historians, Roebling Park is on the site of the 1840 workshop of John Roebling, where he experimented with his ideas for a wire rope.Roebling patented his new wire cable, which found extensive use in suspension bridges. The climax of his bridge-building career was the Brooklyn Bridge across the East River between New York City, Manhattan and Brooklyn.A replica of the Brooklyn Bridge is on permanent display at the park.

The township is in the process of developing a park next to its building at 194 Brose Road.The park has one picnic shelter, and the township is working to gets grants for a playground.

The Community Development Corporation of Butler County in 2004 donated 70 acres on the backside of the Victory Road Business Park to the township for a community park called Spring Valley Park.Mary Zacherl, a township secretary and liaison for the township supervisors on the park board, said the township began its first phase of construction in 2006, building a playground and picnic pavilion."We are about to start Phase II, which consists of trail development," Zacherl said.Spring Valley Park is an estimated $1.17 million project with four phases that include amphitheaters, sports fields, playgrounds and nature trails."Right now we are working on bringing water to the site," Zacherl said. "Aldi's has been generous, donating to run a water line to the edge of its (land) for us."Last summer a group from the state Conservation Corps worked on the park, leveling and seeding areas. The township's road crew also works on the park whenever it can.Zacherl said the park has been made a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization for grant purposes."We are planning a Celebration at the Park this summer," she said. "I've been just amazed at the number of people who stop by wanting to use the park."</I>

<I>Final in a series</i>

Roebling Park on North Rebecca Street, between Main and Water streets in Saxonburg, features three acres of grass and woods, with a gazebo-style bandstand that is the site of many events.