Nov 20, 2013 2 min read

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has approved Washington County’s request to construct a second boat launch at Cross Creek County Park, this one on the Route 844 side of the lake near West Middletown.

Lisa Cessna, director of the Washington County Planning Commission, said Wednesday she expects to ask the county commissioners for permission to advertise for bids to build the launch in 2014.

Cessna called the textured-concrete boat launch and adjacent area a “full-blown development” that is to include a fishing pier, playground, parking area, shelter and restroom facilities. There has long been a boat launch, with amenities, on the Route 50 side of the park.

The limit on boat motors at Cross Creek is 10 horsepower, and the lake also is used by those using watercraft propelled by oars or paddles.

DCNR, which has promised $320,857 worth of grant money for the project, has given the county a deadline of Dec. 31, 2015, by which to finish the project. The balance of the cost of the project will be paid for with gas and oil royalties from county wells.

While this conditional approval to proceed arrived within a matter of weeks, the county waited about three years to receive approval from another state agency, the Department of Environmental Protection.

Thompson Hill Road, half of which belongs to the county and half of which belongs to Hopewell Township, has a parking area near a gate that requires those headed to the lake to fish to proceed on foot.

A spur from the proposed “loop trail” on the Route 844 side of the park is to be constructed to the Thompson Hill boat launch area.

The trail itself is being constructed by Range Resources in accordance with an agreement that resulted from negotiations with Range related to a MarkWest transmission line from Range’s wells at the park.