Not much response to county parks plan
Although public comment was scheduled to conclude next week, so few people have been weighing in on the future of Washington County’s parks that it has been extended to the end of the month.
There was little or no response to a questionnaire mailed to about 100 households of park program participants from around the county.
Lisa Cessna, Washington County planning commission director, realized that people may not want to answer the 19-point survey on the county website, so she asked park users to email her at cessnal@co.washington.pa.us or call 724-228-6811.
People can also comment on the county’s Facebook page, found at www.co.washington.pa.us.
Cessna’s daughter, Emma, distributed information about the survey to families of her elementary school classmates, but that also failed to produce results.
Some questions from the 19-point survey involve: past park use; quality of facilities; participation in recreation programs or special events; needs to be met, ranking of needs, adequacy of current park facilities; reasons that prevent someone from using parks, recreation and sports facilities or programs used more often; preference for program time slots; and satisfaction with activities and programs.
Equestrians attending two open houses at the fairgrounds on the topic of park planning have been the most vocal segment of the community. They have voiced their hopes of having both Cross Creek parks opened to trail-riders and more facilities at Mingo.
For those who still might want to submit the survey, it is available at www.wacountyparksplan.com. Those filling out the survey do not have to be Washington County residents, even though one of the questions is, “How many years have you lived in Washington County?”
A final report to the Washington County commissioners had been set for July 3, but Cessna has also pushed that back in hopes of receiving additional feedback.
A few people have confronted the county commissioners over the years about their disappointment that county parks lack ski slopes, a beach for swimming or spacious campgrounds in which to park recreational vehicles, so Cessna said she was surprised at the apathy she has encountered when attempting to prepare a 10-year plan for recreation.
“Everybody uses the parks,” Cessna said. “They have to have an opinion.”
In another recreation-related matter, the commissioners on Thursday approved Range Resources’ boring under the Panhandle Trail in Smith Township for a temporary water line which should not interfere with the use of the trail. Cessna said she did not yet have a date to mark the beginning of the project.
And in Cross Creek County Park, a paving project by Morgan Excavating of Belle Vernon will cost $23,412 above the original $587,000 contract. Funding the road-paving is revenue from the county’s oil and gas leases.