LANCASTER TWP — The way township Supervisor Joseph Plesniak sees it, Four Springs Park could be a representation of both the past and the future of the township.

“My vision is to have a new municipal building; it will represent the future,” Plesniak said. “In the background, you will have the rolling hills of the park, the barn, representing the past. I think the park has a lot of potential.”

Plesniak said the park, which is only in the early stages of planning, would be an attractive destination for visitors and residents alike, and he hopes that it will feature a walking loop, sports fields, and use the natural water springs there.

“One of the nice features would be to have a walking park around the farm, some ballparks in the back,” Plesniak said. “The park land has four natural springs on it, which is part of the appeal. It’s a beautiful setting.”

The park was named because of those springs, and it is on the nearly 26-acre property that used to be the Haine farm. The land was bought in 2009 with the goal of making a community park at the intersection of Route 19 and West Lancaster Road.

The park will be 20 acres; the remaining nearly six acres will be used for a new township office and center.

Cindy Watson, the township’s secretary and treasurer, said the development of the park is in the master plan phase.

The township received a matching grant from the state of $15,000, and it has hired the landscape architecture firm Pashek Associates to create the master plan.

“It was a $15,000 grant we got from the state. We got half up front, we will get the other half when the plan is finished,” Watson said. “It’s a matching grant, so the township will also pay $15,000.”

That plan is the first document for the park and is required by state law before construction can start.

“They’re expensive,” Watson said of the plan process. “You have to have a certified master planner to do the plan.”

Part of that plan hinges on public input of what residents want to see at the park, and several methods are being used to get that input, Watson noted.

The township is doing an online survey — www.surveymonkey.com/s/FourSpringsPark — and has a Facebook page — www.facebook.com/FourSpringsPark — where residents can leave comments.

There also will be three public sessions where residents can talk about amenities or designs they’d like to see in the park.

The first session will be at 7 p.m. April 24 at the township community center, 113 Kings Alley. The other two sessions have not been scheduled.

The township also will mail questionnaires to about 10 percent of the township’s 2,521 residents.

“We are hoping to get a good response back,” Watson said of the public input. “We want their input.”

Watson said there is no timeline for construction to begin or a completion date of the park. What is built at the park will be in part determined by how much funding the township receives to help pay for it.

“It depends on how much further grant funds we get,” she said.