North Franklin Township preparing to open new event center
North Franklin Township is putting the finishing touches on a new event center that will soon be available to rent.
The more than a century old water company building was renovated to become the Waterside Park Event Center. Bob Sabot, chair of the township board of supervisors, described it as an open-air pavilion that can hold 150 people.
“It is pretty much completed,” Sabot said. “There is going to be work that has to be done outside as far as paving and grading.”
The renovations to the building cost about $900,000, according to township Director of Planning and Development Erin Dinch.
Dinch said $100,000 came from the Washington County Local Share Account program, and another $200,000 in grants came from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The event center is part of a larger project to build out Waterside Park. The building is next door to the new township building at 345 Franklin Farms Road, which opened last year.
Sabot said that by next year there will be walking trails and pickleball courts.
“It will be a continuation of growing that area out into not only a park but a facility for recreation,” Sabot said.
North Franklin used the existing structure to build the Waterside Park Event Center. Sabot described it as structurally sound, but being completely gutted on the inside.
“There was just a dirt floor. That is all there was,” Sabot said.
According to Sabot, the pavilion can be rented out for events such as graduation parties.
“There are lots of things it could be used for,” Sabot said.
Sabot expects the space will be available to rent this fall, but next spring will begin the first full season for the event center.
Dinch said the township has not worked out pavilion rental fees.
North Franklin Township is holding its first Fall Fest this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which Sabot said will offer an opportunity to show off the event center to the public for the first time.
The Fall Fest will feature a show from the Wild World of Animals at noon, a touch-a-truck event, bounce houses, face painting, crafts and food.
“We would like as many people to come down as possible to view it, see it and see the progress that we’re making,” Sabot said.