McELHATTAN - Work on improvements to Zindel Park are progressing nicely, according to the Wayne Township supervisors, who provided a brief update on the project at Monday evening's meeting.
The project has been in the planning stages for several years, and the township's recreation committee has made it the lead initiative in a number of efforts to preserve recreational and historic heritage in the township.
The plans include reconstruction of a parking area, construction of a pavilion and landscaping, thanks in part to a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Zindel Park is a bit of an oddity as a project. Most of the facilities were built in the late 1920s by the City of Lock Haven in connection with a reservoir. A unique stone house, also built at the time, was occupied by water officials, who apparently provided a security presence that the facility.
The township has entered into a lease agreement for Zindel Park with the City of Lock Haven, and the major part of the work began this summer
Phase I of the renovation project will include relocating the city's shooting range and installing a gate at the southern end of the park. Supervisor Chairman David Calhoun said some city officials recently toured the facility with him to verify the suitability of a reconfiguration of the shooting range, which the city maintains for the police department.
Work will also begin on a 1.5-mile walking and hiking path through the park, building a pavilion and possibly installing a kiosk with signage. Township engineer Dave Norman told the board he needed more information on the exact path of the walking and hiking path before moving ahead with that part of the effort.
Calhoun, Supervisor Thomas Chitwood, members of the recreation committee, Norman, township Secretary Darlene Macklem, City Manager Rich Marcinkevege, City Planner Leonora Hannagan and Police Chief Skip Hocker have all discussed plans for the shooting range and Phase I, and the city has approved the township proceeding with installation of gates, walking path, handicapped parking area and signage.
The board, in other matters:
- Discussed pending repairs to roads damaged by the seismic testing by CGG Veritas. Norman told the board he will continue to gather information on exactly what repairs might be required for McKinney, Shoemaker, Campground, Reservoir and Pine Mountain Loganton roads.
- The board continues to work on a state-required "overlay ordinance" that reflects altitudes and paths in connection with the Pennsylvania Airport Zoning Act. The regulations are expected to have minor impact on area properties.
- The Clinton County Solid Waste Authority continues to make progress on its proposal for a new entrance to the landfill, and presented a schematic drawing of the proposal to the board. Some concerns expressed by the audience for the setback requirements were answered by the engineer, but the consensus appeared to be the width, along with the planting of trees at the base and top of the incline, and the inclusion of a walking path and benches, should be sufficient for the township's approval, pending other factors like an engineering plan, fuller details of the project, water-runoff data and other typical factors reflecting zoning and construction.
- The supervisors will have attorney Paul Welch represent the board at an upcoming zoning hearing board meeting regarding the Eshelman property. A proposal has been made to use a barn there for prefabrication manufacturing of pipes for the drilling industry. The barn is in an agricultural zone and many residents feel the enterprise is not appropriate for the business. Calhoun said he was opposed to the project and backed the zoning officer's rejection of the application, but the other two supervisors declined to voice an opinion until hearing the facts at the hearing.
- Heard attorney Welch say he needed more direction from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in Harrisburg before moving ahead with a "jake brake" ordinance for Shoemaker Road. Welch said a review of the laws appeared to show conflicting legal directions.
- The board will ask for an update of the township's zoning map to more accurately reflect the current zoning situation, and board members suggested a consolidation of the four different zoning books into one, cohesive book.
- The township will look into the possibility of setting curfew for young people at 11 p.m.
