Mar 4, 2022
CHASE BOTTORF/THE EXPRESS The park’s welcoming sign leading to the Woolrich Little League ballfields is shown.
AVIS — A partnership between Clinton County Government and Pine Creek Township will help keep Woolrich Park away from housing developers.
County commissioners, Angela Harding and Jeff Snyder, made a special appearance at Pine Creek Township’s supervisor meeting Wednesday night regarding the future of Woolrich Park. The commissioners came in hopes of sparking a partnership with the township supervisors in preserving the park as it is a large asset to the county’s community.
According to Harding, the commissioners were approached by the current owners and managers of Woolrich Incorporated regarding the park. She said they came to them about taking over ownership of the park as the company is currently liquidating most of their assets in the community aside from its store.
“They wanted to approach us about taking over the park because they want it to remain a park for the community in the county. Through that discussion, we, the three commissioners, determined that we are really not in the position to maintain or take care of a park as county government,” said Harding.
The commissioners quickly recognized they needed to develop partners and have conversations with other stakeholders and possible future stakeholders who have interest in the park, according to Harding. Those stakeholders, she said, led them to the Pine Creek Township supervisors where they began discussion about the park with them. Along with the township, the commissioners also had discussions with the Little League Organization, who are a major stakeholder in the park’s future as they utilize and maintain the ball fields, the concession stands, fences, etc.
“We have met with Little League and they’re willing to continue to take care of those fields like they have in the past,” said Snyder. “Let’s face it. I even suggested to supervisors that if the park is too big, we could always take down some of those trees and make another ball field — we can never have enough ball fields.”
The president of Woolrich Little League, Jillian Boyer, was in attendance during the meeting to give her stance on the park. She pressed the organization’s involvement with maintaining the ball fields and the importance they have in the Woolrich community, assuring Woolrich Little League would continue to maintain fields in the park.
Another major stakeholder in the park is the PA Trail Dog group who manages the Mid State Trail that goes through Woolrich Park. With outdoor activities being one of the biggest assets to rural Pennsylvania, according to Harding, the park is an important asset. She believes the Clinton County government will lean more towards recreation in the future as outdoor activities are what brings people to Pennsylvania. With moves going forward on projects such as DCNR’s ATV trail network, recreation is a major aspect to the county.
The Trail Dogs, according to Harding, said they would continue trail upkeep through DCNR and would possibly hold a race every year with proceeds going back to the maintenance and upkeep of the park.
Despite the commissioners push to keep the park in the community, they cannot manage it alone. Harding said with low staffing, they cannot take full ownership or full responsibility to run and regulate a park.
Snyder said if the opportunity is not accepted by Woolrich Incorporated, the park will be sold to a private industry who will then build townhouses in the park. He said they do not want to see that happen and want to form a partnership with the community and the township in order to work through what funds Clinton County government has in Act 13.
“The county will put some funding into this and will continue to work with the township … I don’t think that the Woolrich community wants to see townhouses in that park. I hope that the community will pull together and say let’s do this and support the supervisors in an endeavor to accept this donation from Woolrich Incorporated,” he said.
Some of the current issues with the park includes parking. One of the guests in attendance was Brandon Coleman who expressed his attachment to the park, having grown up in Woolrich and worked at the park as a kid. He brought up that the park would greatly benefit from having another parking lot put in at the lower half of it below pavilion number two.
Chairman John Reese agreed with Coleman’s suggestion.
“If you use the park at any time, as far as pavilions, parking is an issue. Even if you have to walk from one distance to another, I think it probably be in the best interest. It would cut down on mowing, put more parking places where the pavilions are if we have to,” he said.
Reese added that it would not be anything major but, something small so visitors can utilize the pavilions without walking far. The township plans to work through ideas such as adding new parking spots once everything is finalized and the park is in the township’s name.
One of Woolrich’s residents who lives across from the park and has for about 20 years, Heather Fowler, was in attendance to give her support to the park. The snack shack concession stand in Woolrich Park was named after her late son, Aidan Fowler.
Fowler expressed her attachment to the park and offered her support whenever possible. She also offered to hold a race in Aidan’s name and donating it to the park.
“We run races there (Woolrich Park), so I wouldn’t be adverse to having a race in Aidan’s name by donating it to the park. I know my family and I would be interested in helping with the park,” she said.
Harding and Snyder suggested the township form a recreation committee — which several guests during the meeting were in full favor of taking part in.
However, before the township could go forward with starting a recreation committee to help with the park, Harding, Snyder and Reese said they need to wait before the donation is finalized.
For the time being, Reese said they could get names of interest for the committee so the township has them. The commissioners need the final paperwork finished with Woolrich before the township can move forward. They plan to have everything finalized and in order by April’s supervisor meeting.
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