Jul 20, 2015 2 min read

Washington County commissioners approved several proposed changes to Cross Creek and Mingo Creek county parks.

The county will pay as much as $5,000 to purchase and install a heat pump and insulation in Mingo Park’s planetarium to provide the equipment and provide the opportunity for year-round programming by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pennsylvania.

At the request of the Washington County Planning Commission, the county commissioners approved an agreement with Nottingham Township that has the township supplying equipment and labor to resurface Chapel Hill Road in Mingo Park with materials the county will furnish, at a cost not to exceed $70,000.

Oil and gas revenues will pay for both projects at Mingo.

The commissioners ratified the $2,182 purchase of a piece of property along Route 844 in West Middletown to expand an entrance to Cross Creek park. The land and dilapidated house, in arrears for unpaid taxes, were auctioned at a judicial sale last month, and the county was the sole bidder.

Also at Cross Creek, the Parks Department won approval to purchase two Rocky Mountain double vault restrooms at a cost of $95,480 from CXT Concrete Buildings through a state contract that does not require bidding. The project will be paid with oil and gas lease proceeds.

The planning commission also plans to advertise for proposals to determine the cost of installing surveillance cameras in various locations in county parks.