Forward supervisor proposes turning township-owned land into park
FORWARD TWP — The newest township supervisor, Susan Oliver-Stough, presented to the public Tuesday, Feb. 13 her proposal to turn township-owned land near Glade Run into a nature preserve.
Forward Township acquired the 2.5-acre parcel of property on Valencia Road in May from Tony and Charlotte Wright for $285,000. The township used grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to purchase the property, on the grounds it was in an area of the township which was prone to flooding.
A house on the property was removed.
Oliver-Stough noted one of the requirements of the township acquiring the property was that the owner could not erect any permanent structures there. She reasoned that a park would be the ideal use of the space.
“We decided to take a look at that and say, ‘That's actually a neat idea, to have a park down there that can take advantage of the nature and something that can be used by the community in many different ways,’” Oliver-Stough said. “And of course, it would have minimal budget impact.”
She also reasoned that a park at the site would fit nicely within Forward Township’s comprehensive plan, which calls for more outdoor recreational opportunities. The comprehensive plan was last updated in November 2022.
For the concept presentation, Oliver-Stough worked with Ryan Harr of the Butler County Conservation District. Harr has experience working with Ritts Park, Alameda Park, and Chicora Park.
Part of Harr’s plan to make the parcel into a viable park is to plant a buffer of native trees along the stream and set aside plots for pollinator gardens, as well as remove some still-standing pine trees leaning dangerously close to power lines.
The presentation also pointed out suitable locations for a possible boat launch, as well as a meadow for wildlife to roam. The latter would be situated in the area where the house was.
“These are just ideas, nothing concrete,” Harr said. “But I kind of need a plan, then we can go after it.”
Oliver-Stough and Harr also brought up the possibility of putting together a public contest to find both the name and the logo of the park.
While no action was taken on the proposal on Tuesday night, supervisors chairman Mark Wilson said he was “very impressed.”
“We've been talking about what we’re going to do with this property for a long time, and I think this is an excellent plan,” Wilson said.
