Oct 28, 2025 By Garrett Neese 4 min read

Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen described the Wisecarver Park and Reservoir as a “small amenity that will have a large impact in our community.”

The newest upgrade to heighten that impact was celebrated Monday morning with a ribbon-cutting for the new kayak launch at the park, located outside of Waynesburg.

Opened in July, the launch includes seven Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant slips, and is accompanied by a parking lot and driveway leading down to the launch.

Grant funding for the kayak launches came from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. EQT donated $500,000 in 2023 for the project, which includes future phases of improvements.

“This is truly a great asset and an amenity for our community, as this lake boasts that high-quality watershed, a place where people can recreate, where tourism can thrive in this county,” Edgreen said. “As we think about the fish species that will be in this lake, we’re excited to see this lake grow and this become a place where community comes and truly enjoys it.”

The improvements are carrying on the vision that originated with Joe Simatic, the former manager for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority, said Commissioner Blair Zimmerman. He recalled getting a letter in 2013 from Dave Pollock, the authority’s solicitor, proposing the county take over the property with a 99-year lease. That happened in 2016.

“Thank the Water Authority for having the vision and giving us this property,” Zimmerman said. “…We’ve come out here, and this place has been packed with people fishing and kayaking, and it’s going to continue, and it’s only going to grow.”

Because the improvements were coming in a high-quality watershed, the Department of Environmental Protection required extra diligence in permitting, which took about a year and a half, Edgreen said.

Commissioners were happy to see the project come to fruition.

“I never thought it would come, so for me, seeing these kayak launches is extremely exciting, because it is going to be real,” said Commissioner Betsy McClure.

On their way to the ribbon-cutting, guests passed the first phase of improvements, which included a new ballfield.

More improvements are planned to come.

A boat launch will be installed nearby. That will allow the Fish and Boat Commission easy access to stock fish in the lake, Edgreen said. It also allows emergency boats to come through, Edgreen said, citing a 2023 incident where a boater had a medical emergency and rescuers had to bring boats through the woods.

Further improvements will include more parking, a waterless restroom and a nature playground for kids.

“It kind of follows the topography of slides, coming through rocks and something a little bit different as far as a recreational playground,” Edgreen said.

As another part of the third phase, a walking trail will connect the ballfield to the kayak launch.

Eventually, Edgreen said, the county hopes to add an ADA walking trail going around the entire lake.

Some of the funding from the EQT, DCNR and Fish and Boat Commission is locked in for the third phase. There’s still about a $1 million shortfall, Edgreen said.

The county had made a federal appropriations request for the trail around the lake several years ago, which it did not receive.

Edgreen is hopeful those phases will move forward — “and then we’ll see from there.”

“There’s almost 400 acres here, and there’s a lot of potential, and you can see how beautiful it is,” he said.