Steel City Park Upgrades Postponed Until 2014

Note: The following press release was originally published on the Lower Saucon Township website.

Lower Saucon Township Manager Jack Cahalan has announced that due to delays in obtaining permit approvals from PennDOT, the start-up of the construction planned for Steel City Park will be put off until 2014. Steel City Park, which is a 1.8 acre neighborhood park in the Steel City section of the township, is part of the extensive system of parks and athletic fields that provide a wide range of recreational activities for township residents.

Built in 1974, the park was in need of upgrades and refurbishment. Following a public meeting with Steel City residents in August 2008, the township planners and Parks and Recreation Board made recommendations for improvements to the park, which were adopted in the Final Plan that was approved by the Township Council in May 2010. The plan calls for improvements to the sports fields and playground equipment, the addition of walking paths, full-court basketball and sand volleyball courts, and parking for visitors. The plan was previewed for Steel City residents at a Parks & Recreation Board meeting that was held at the park last August.

Since the plan requires the installation of storm water improvements that encompass a portion of the state right-of-way on Riverside Drive, the township has been in discussions with PennDOT to secure the use of this property. Unfortunately, the formal approval for this may not be granted until sometime this summer, which prevents our Public Works Department, who has been designated to handle the bulk of the earthmoving and construction for this project—at a substantial savings to township taxpayers—from starting and finishing their 4-6 month list of responsibilities before next winter. In addition, this schedule will also not allow us to reseed the athletic fields during the optimum fall planting period.

During 2013, in addition to completing their road maintenance responsibilities, our Public Works Department will be concentrating on completing construction at Kingston Park where we are anticipating the installation of the composting toilets that the township received a grant for, and also installing the Reading Drive Trailhead along the Saucon Rail Trail which will provide year-round parking and access in the township to the popular trail.