On Aug. 16, East Hempfield Township's board of supervisors convened to decide on a master park plan for Nolt Road Park in Landisville. The 50-acre property is located at the intersection Nolt Road and Church Street, and although it is currently undeveloped, it is reserved for future recreational use.

The township purchased the land in 1980 with the goal of converting it into a recreational space, but previous attempts to complete the project have never gained enough traction. The property is currently leased to a sod farmer, and local residents often use it when walking their dogs. Earlier this year, the Hempfield Youth Association (HYA) contacted the board of supervisors to express its need for baseball fields and requested a plan to utilize Nolt Road Park.

In its initial plan, the township suggested the addition of football fields, soccer fields, and hard surface courts, each equipped with its own lighting system. Local residents expressed concern about the intensity of the project plan, wondering if it would increase traffic and light pollution in the area. The board of supervisors drafted Master Park Plan C in response to the feedback, which retains many of the same features but scales down the intensity of the final project. Plan C still has multiple baseball fields, but also contains walking trails, picnic areas, wooded meadows and crosswalks on Nolt Road. The lighting system was removed from the baseball fields, and a playground and a dog park were added.

The board of supervisors voted to adopt Plan C after receiving primarily positive feedback. Although a plan has been selected, it doesn't mean that construction will begin right away; it could be 20 to 25 years before the new features are installed. However, having a plan selected by the township allows the board of supervisors and local organizations such as HYA to apply for grants to fund the project.

Township manager Cindy Schweitzer credits the success of Master Park Plan C with its diversity. "This plan incorporates so many different types of activities," Schweitzer said. "You can be a baseball lover and enjoy it, but also a nature lover can just walk the trails and meadows."

For more information, visit http://www.easthempfield.org.