After four long years, I am happy to announce that the construction at Glade Run Lake officially started on Monday, Oct. 5. The first part of the project is the demolition of the spillway. This is an exciting time for all members and donors of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy.

The park will be closed until completion in the fall of 2016. The state Department of General Services as well as the contractor, KC Construction, ask that all refrain from visiting the lake and park as this is now officially a work zone. This is for safety reasons as well as non-interference with the heavy machines that are on site. Only contracted workers and conservancy board members will be allowed access.

This week, the conservancy will conduct a small, low-key groundbreaking ceremony that will be the start of a new beginning for the lake and park. The ceremony will include key people who made this project happen.

On behalf of the of the board of directors of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy, we would like to thank all our members, donors, businesses, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and all the government officials for making the dream come true. The effort we started at the grassroots level gained support and gathered momentum.

Many articles about our endeavors have been published in area newspapers. The support we received from the Butler Eagle, its excellent writers and editorial board helped get our message out to the people and to our elected representatives.

Many have asked us, how did we do it? It wasn’t easy and took many long hours. There were numerous 3 or 4 hour board meetings, countless phone calls, e-mails and presentations to many groups. Middlesex Township pledged $30,000 and our Butler County Commissioners pledged $110,000. We thank all of them for their commitment and pledges.

Simply put, it took huge doses of perseverance, dedication, passion and making sure we had an elected official in our district who really cared and wanted to help. It was State Sen. Randy Vulakovich who worked hand in hand with the Glade Run Lake Conservancy and came to the rescue. He gathered the commitment and support of state Sens. Scott Hutchinson and Don White. This group petitioned former Gov. Tom Corbett to match the $2 million that the conservancy had already pledged.

Their collective efforts made all our hard work finally pay off.

Getting the funds to rebuild the dam was the main objective, but not the only one that the conservancy wanted to accomplish. Our vision was also to make necessary improvements to the park and lake.

There is a new walking trail with a 24-foot bridge constructed by a local Boy Scout as part of his Eagle project. We wanted to improve the fish population in the lake. We hired Civil and Environmental Consultants, who surveyed the terrain and drew up plans to increase the depth in the eastern shallow end of the lake. More than 10,000 cubic yards of excavated dirt will be used to make an island for osprey and turtles. Also, with the assistance of the fish and boat commission, more than 250 fish habitats will be constructed and placed throughout the lake bed. The experts estimate that this project will enhance and increase the fish population by more than 30 percent.

We also hired the engineering firm of Herbert, Rowland and Grubic to design a new boat turnaround and improve the parking area, walkway and jetty for the disabled. The jewel of this project will be a new 12-foot by 30-foot dock that will extend 30 feet from the end of the jetty into the lake. This dock will allow those with disabilities to drop a line into 15 feet of water.

Thanks to the many children who contributed their piggy bank and recycling money, and to Mars Centennial School children who donated more than $1,200. Thanks to the numerous businesses and organizations that continually donated money, materials and in-kind services over these four years. We couldn’t have done it without you. It truly was a regional community effort.

There were many who doubted us and said, “You ain’t never gonna get that dam fixed in your lifetime.” Yet we overcame many obstacles and remained focused, positive and indefatigable in our quest to get the job done. Our success is a great example of the American spirit of will and determination. It is what can be achieved when a community puts its collective efforts together.

We did it!

Sigmund J “Siggy” Pehel III, of Valencia, is the founder and president of Glade Run Lake Conservancy.