May 7, 2025 By Jon Andreassi 3 min read

Rolling Hills Park may have pickleball, dek hockey and basketball in its future.

Members of Peters Township council looked over designs for phase two of the park’s development at a workshop meeting Monday evening. The designs were completed by Pittsburgh-based Gateway engineers.

The current proposal would feature five pickleball courts, two basketball courts and a dek hockey rink. There are also plans for a dog park, and restrooms with an attached pavilion.

Township engineer Mark Zemaitis told council that current estimates put the construction at about $7.45 million.

“That’s in today’s numbers. The climate of construction is ever changing, so keep that in mind,” Zemaitis said.

However, this vision for Rolling Hills Park is likely still a ways off. Township Manager Paul Lauer proposed to council that when they begin the budget process later this year, they should plan to begin soliciting bids at the end of 2027 and starting construction in 2028. Elected officials will also have to decide whether or not to raise taxes slightly to fund the project.

As part of Lauer’s proposed timeline, he suggested raising the current 1.7 millage rate by at least 0.1 mill. That would cost the average homeowner in Peters an additional $35.10, and bring the municipality about $344,167 annually.

“The other thing that I think is important to note is, you know, there is no municipality in Washington County that provides the services that Peters Township does, or provides them as robustly, ” Lauer said, adding that taxes in Peters remain relatively low compared to neighboring municipalities.

According to Lauer, the township would also have to commit to a $10 million bond issue in 2028 for the park and other planned projects.

The first phase of redeveloping Rolling Hills Park was the soon-to-be-completed aqua park. That project was scaled down significantly when bids far exceeded its $10 million budget.

Councilman Tom Pirosko wondered if the township should move faster on the next phase to avoid ballooning costs.

“So how much will the cost increase in two, three years for construction? Because I mean, I remember when I was running for council the aquatic center was going to be $10 million. Then a couple years later we go out to bid, it’s 17-and-a-half,” Pirosko said.

Lauer did suggest there could be an accelerated timeline where Peters both raises taxes and takes on the $10 million bond issue next year to begin bids in January 2026, but that he does not believe that would be a financially prudent course.

“In all deference to (Gateway Engineering), they don’t know what it’s going to cost, we don’t know what it’s going to cost until you go out and bid it,” Lauer said. “Is it going to cost more to do it next year than this year? Yes. How much more? I don’t think anybody can tell you that.”