More park, open space planning underway

LIMERICK >> Although work on Limerick Community Park has recently grabbed all the headlines, the township is not stopping there.

Earlier this month, supervisors were briefed on concept plans for both the 17-acre Linfield Sports Park on Longview Road, which the township purchased in 2010, as well as a more recently purchased three-acre property on Main Street, recognizable from the historic toll house that sits there.

Located adjacent to the Schuylkill River and the Linfield Road bridge, concepts for that property, and its connection to the sports park, Schuylkill River Trail and 16-acre Schuylkill River Park just upstream were also revealed.

Tim Haas, assistant township manager, and parks and recreation assistant director Ryan Yanchocik outlined the conceptual plan at the Sept.

3 supervisors meeting.

They reviewed baseball, basketball and soccer fields, as well as activities that require a little less exertion, like bocci, chess and backgammon boards built into tables at the park.

Yanchocik said parents with several children often have long periods in between games, and these activities give them something to do.

Supervisor Elaine DeWan took particular pleasure in those additions.

A playground would also allow children not participating in a game to enjoy the park while their siblings play.

Closer to the river, the historic toll house would remain at the property, but could be expanded, to make it more of a visitor center, as well as a possible raised boardwalk trail, pergola and kayak launch on the river, according to the concept plan.

Should the land between the toll house property and the Schuylkill River Park become available for purchase, a trail connection between the Schuylkill River Trailhead in Parkerford; the toll house, and the township’s Schuylkill River Park could all be realized, they said.

Those trail plans are part of the township’s master tails plan, first outlined in 2013.

Of course, purchasing that property would require a robust open space fund, something Kerr has approached the supervisors about before.

Kerr’s previous inquiries about enacting an earned income tax to be dedicated to open space purchase and preservation was met with a suggestion that before a tax is enacted, the township needs an open space plan.

At that same meeting, the supervisors voted unanimously to hire Simone Collins planners to craft a new Open Space plan for the township with a price limit of $50,000.

The last open space plan was completed in 2006, according to Township Manager Dan Kerr, and it helped to leverage the $2 million in funding for the 2008 purchase the 80-acre Kurylo Farm for $2.8 million.

The new open space plan would become an integral part of a new township comprehensive plan, said Kerr. That last comprehensive plan was adopted in 2009, but before embarking on that, said Kerr, it would be best to have the latest Census figures for the township.