After meeting with about 12 contractors to discuss the first phase of the township’s Weatherwood Park and municipal complex projects, Hempfield plans to open construction bids May 16.

Supervisors may vote on the contractors for the projects during their May 20 meeting, township Manager Aaron Siko said.

“(It was) a pretty good turnout, all in all, and a lot of diversity in that,” Siko said.

Hempfield purchased 43 acres from Excela Health in 2021 for the Weatherwood Community Park and municipal complex.

The park — slated for 14 acres of the property — will be off Weatherwood Lane, near Route 30 and Mt. Pleasant Road. It will feature a splash pad, a playground, outdoor fitness and yoga areas, a pavilion, a walking trail and a building for restrooms and concessions.

The municipal complex — which will be completed in tandem with the park — will house fire department headquarters, the Hempfield Emergency Management Agency and ambulance bays in partnership with Mutual Aid.

The township will allocate $4.2 million for the first phase of the Weatherwood project and about $4.5 million for the first phase of the municipal complex project.

Phase one for both projects includes clearing of the site, construction of a road connecting Spruce Street and Weatherwood Lane, stormwater and utility developments. A multipurpose building will be constructed to house a concession stand, restrooms and storage.

The township submitted an application to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a $2.6 million grant to support the second phase of the park project. Parks and recreation director Marissa Haynes said the township should hear back from the department in the fall.

“We’re very excited to see where the bids come in in May when we open, and we’re excited for the new development,” Haynes said. “We’re feeling good, we’re feeling positive about it, and we’re excited to see next steps and start construction.”

The township plans to start construction in June and wrap up the project in September 2025, Siko said.

Hempfield will also unveil its new recreation space in the Westmoreland Mall at 4:30 p.m May 9, Haynes said. The space — on the lower level of the mall outside of Macy’s — will be used for preschool and nonsports-related programs.

“This will be, really, another addition to our facilities, providing another space that we can program for anything that’s non-sports related or more enrichment-based. We have that flexible schedule. We have that centralized location,” she said of the new space.

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