Commissioners delay decision on miniature golf course at Mingo Creek park
The Washington County commissioners are delaying a decision on whether to build a miniature golf course at Mingo Creek County Park after being inundated with messages from people who do not want it to take away from the natural beauty of the park in Nottingham Township.
Before public comment even began during Thursday’s commissioners meeting, board Chairman Nick Sherman announced that officials were planning to table the motion to spend more than $300,000 on the 18-hole mini-golf course behind the park office due to the public’s outcry.
“We’ve received a litany of phone calls and emails about this,” Sherman said. “They’re worried about the integrity of the park.”
The county in November commissioned a study on the project, paying $73,659 for Remington & Vernick Engineers of Ross Township to perform engineering reviews on two possible locations for the amenity. A request for proposal was later advertised and the commissioners had settled on the $318,595 estimate from Michigan-based Adventure Golf & Sports, with optional “water features” for an extra $131,121. A second estimate from Harris Mini Golf Courses of Scranton for $641,000 was not considered.
But the county apparently received an onslaught of phone calls and emails over the past two days after the commissioners placed the miniature golf course on the agenda for consideration during their Tuesday morning workshop meeting.
That pushback continued at Thursday’s meeting as four people spoke out against the miniature golf course during public comment even after Sherman announced they would delay any decision on it until a later date.
Marah Coleman of North Strabane said she enjoys the walking and hiking trails at Mingo, and even rides her horse on the equestrian trails. Coleman said she appreciated the commissioners looking to offer kid-friendly activities, but she thought the mini-golf course would be a “negative detriment to the park.”
“I just believe that’s not the space for it, and I’m hoping that maybe there’s another space in the county where we could have something so great,” Coleman said.
Bernie Slezak of North Strabane suggested the county spend money improving the park in other ways, such as installing new blazes or markings for trails. The county was planning on using Act 13 impact fee money from natural gas royalties at the park to pay for the course.
Nina Biehler of South Strabane said she and others train dogs at Mingo, and even said the hillside behind the park office where the mini-golf was planned is called “beginners field” because it’s the perfect spot for new trainees.
“That park is, it just means so much to me,” Biehler said. “The field, the woods, trails. It’s the most peaceful place, the best place to be … and I’d hate to see anything out there that would take anything away from the nature.”
Bob Taylor of Fallowfield noted that there seemed to be little input from the public about the miniature golf course and asked why a survey was not performed asking the community what new amenities they wanted to see at Mingo.
“In past administrations, when you did something at this large of a scale for a public park, they usually had a survey before the (decision) and I’m just wondering why that wasn’t done,” Taylor said.
Sherman indicated that will be part of the planning moving forward, appearing to promise a “poll” to let county residents decide whether they want a miniature golf course at Mingo or something else. He added there initially was praise when the idea was first broached in August, but he acknowledged that there was a substantial amount of backlash in recent days as the plan became more public.
“At the end of the day, the three of us county commissioners are stewards of the taxpayers, and we work for you,” Sherman said of himself and his fellow commissioners Electra Janis and Larry Maggi. “We know this, so if there’s an outcry of something you don’t want, we’re not going to proceed with it.”
He said a vote on the issue would be taken at a later date, although it was not clear when that would happen.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved the creation of a new “Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council” that they hope will promote, enhance and preserve outdoor recreation opportunities in the county.
The council would have 11 to 15 members and include people from the county’s Parks & Recreation Department, Pennsylvania Game Commission or Fish & Boat Commission, a watershed or wildlife conservation expert, local hunting and fishing clubs, trail groups, environmental nonprofits, youth outdoor advocates, a tourism or economic development representatives, and a municipal representative from the three townships where county parks are located. Three “at-large members” could consist of citizens, landowners and stakeholders with outdoor recreation interests.
The council will work to protect wildlife habitats, expand public access to outdoor resources, increase tourism and improve cooperation between agencies, clubs, nonprofits and local residents. County officials said the first-year priorities will be community cleanup efforts, starting a Cross Creek Outdoor Recreation Festival, establishing adopt-a-trail and adopt-a-creek programs, while also developing a comprehensive outdoor recreation map and guide for county residents and visitors.
The county commissioners expect to appoint council members by mid-summer. Those interested in sitting on the council can contact the commissioners office at 724-228-6724 for more information on how to apply.