WINFIELD TWP — Natural gas drilling will help develop the township park.

The township supervisors on Thursday unanimously approved a 10-year lease with PennEnergy Resources of Pittsburgh to lease nearly 70 acres for $3,000 an acre or nearly $210,000 total.

Winfield also will receive 15 percent in royalties from any profit the company gains from subsurface drilling on three parcels by the township building off Brose Road.

Supervisor Matt Klabnik, board chairman, said in an interview expanding Winfield Township Community Park off Brose Road would no longer be on the back burner.

“It’s never been a funding priority,” Klabnik said.

He said now Winfield can develop the park without impacting the taxpayers.

Adam Hartwig, township secretary-treasurer/zoning officer, said in an interview there would be no disturbance to the surface of the leased land.

Hartwig said the revenue would be used to expand the park, which already has a pavilion and a jungle gym playground.

He said the township now will have money reserved so it could apply for state matching grants, which require the applicant to pay a portion of the project’s total cost.

Hartwig said the lease will enable Winfield to set aside funds for such purposes as park maintenance.

“This will provide the park with a budget,” he said.

The next project on tap for the park is constructing a restroom. Winfield is applying for a $60,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to do that work.

The state would fund $40,000 of that cost with the township covering the remaining $20,000.

Hartwig said PennEnergy could access the township land from a well pad on Cornetti Road.

According to Hartwig, there has been no community opposition to the drilling.

“It’s something that has been happening for awhile now,” he said about drilling in the township.

Klabnik said drilling enables farmers to receive additional revenue so they’re not forced to sell their land, which could then turn into housing plans.

Hartwig praised Penn-Energy’s methods.

“They’re really safety-oriented,” he said.

Klabnik agreed: “They’re willing to do things right.”

Klabnik said the company also has fixed access roads to their drilling sites.

He said PennEnergy wants to help Winfield in other ways.

“They’re interested in being partners in the community,” Klabnik said.

The township has proposed PennEnergy provide financial assistance to the Winfield Township Volunteer Fire Company.

“They’re struggling as many fire departments are,” Klabnik said.

He said no final decision has been made on what PennEnergy would specifically do.

“We’ll see what that is,” Klabnik said.