Land swap could resolve park problem

Little did anyone know that when a sewage pumping station was erected in a little-used corner of Memorial Park in 1990 it violated a decadesold covenant that came with the federal funding used to purchase the park land in the 1960s.

But after decades of obliviousness, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has highlighted the problem in a recent audit.

Further, it has also ruled that plans to build a permanent platform for the Pottstown end of the Colebrookdale Railroad would further violate that covenant since it has deemed the platform to be a “transportation use” rather than a “recreation use;” this despite the fact that the Colebrookdale uses the platform for excursion rides.

If Pottstown does not resolve the issue, it could jeopardize all future state funding for its parks.

“It’s not just us. This is happening to lots of municipalities across the state,” said Keller.

“Just our government, sticking it to us once again,” quipped Councilman Dennis Arms.

And given that regional recreation director Michael Lane Wednesday night outlined improvements planned near the splash fountain in Memorial Park that rely on state funding, that’s a pretty big problem.

However, the borough may already have found a pretty handy solution.

Assistant Borough Manager Justin Keller outlined it for borough council on April 5.

There is a parcel of land, a former industrial site, at 860 Cross St., which just happens to be across the street from Pollock Park.

The borough is in the midst of putting together a master site plan for the park and recently met with residents to get their input.

Once the site of Sepco Corp. back in the 1950s, the site has since fallen into the ownership of the BASF Corp., which has no desire to keep it.

According to a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the state’s publication for legal notices, the soil was contaminated with chlorinated solvents and PCBs, and the groundwater with chlorinated solvents, but set to be remediated about 15 years ago.

Keller said for final property transfer, an environmental analysis and remediation plan are needed, but that both have already been completed.

The plan calls for “a soil and asphalt cap,” said Keller. In other words, it will be paved over.

Since the planning process for Pollock Park identified the need for two more basketball courts, the paved parcel across Cross Street from the park can be incorporated into Pollock Park for basketball courts and parking.

“Basically, we would just need to stripe it and put up the backboards,” said Keller.

Doing so would replace the recreation space lost at Memorial Park by the pumping station and train platform, satisfying the state’s concerns, he said.

“It would really solve a big problem for us,” Keller said.

Council voted unanimously Monday to sign a letter of interest for the parcel needed to keep things moving forward.

PHOTOS BY EVAN BRANDT — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The state has ruled that the construction of a permanent platform for the Colebrookdale Railroad to replace the temporary one will further violate the terms of the federal funding that purchased Memorial Park.

If the borough accepts the donation of this property at 860 Cross St. to be used as an extension of Pollock Park across the street, it will satisfy the government concerns about the loss of recreation space at Memorial Park.