Hempfield, state officials see $16M site near Route 30 as community. emergency response hub

Looking out over the bare dirt across 43 acres in eastern Hempfield, township Commissioner Jay Anderson was reminded of his days as a Boy Scout leader.

“You’d arrive at Scout camp and it’s just this big open area, but then everyone starts getting set up and before long, it really becomes a village,” Anderson said. “And that’s what will happen here.”

Anderson was joined by local and state officials Monday at the future Hempfield Municipal Complex on Weatherwood Lane, a $16 million endeavor which will include new township offices, a county emergency command center, a 14-acre park and more.

Groundwork at the site began in early August. It is situated near the intersection of Hempfield, Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg, which township manager Aaron Siko said will be an advantage.

“We’re anticipating a separate public safety building, which will have our Hempfield VFD headquarters and serve as a functional station for the township,” Siko said. “Along with that we’ll have our emergency management center and possibly a partnership with Mutual Aid Ambulance to station one of their rigs there, like they currently do at the North Hempfield station.”

Commissioner Doug Weimer said he hopes the new complex will foster connection between the towns.

“That was part of the comprehensive plan we have guiding the future of the township,” Weimer said. “Having accessibility to Route 30 will be great, and hopefully the park space will help entice families to move here.”

The project’s first phase will be construction of a 14-acre park with a splash pad, pavilion and a nature area with fitness amenities. That also will include a connecting road between Weatherwood Lane and Spruce Street and pedestrian walkways.

The planned park is in an area of “high need,” as defined by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, meaning there isn’t a park within 10 minutes of surrounding communities. The property was purchased from the former Excela Health system in 2021. The township has committed about $8.7 million toward the project’s initial phase.

Commissioner Bill Bretz said he’s excited to bring a county emergency command center to the new municipal complex.

“Seconds and minutes matter in an emergency,” Bretz said. “The command center is probably the thing that’s farthest along in terms of planning, and it will probably have the biggest impact.”

Siko said it will bring the township’s public safety entities under one roof.

“It’s also centrally located in the township and county, which will give us better ability to respond to calls in Hempfield and elsewhere,” he said.

Weimer said the complex offers easy access to Route 30, I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Extension.

“This will be a hub for connecting Hempfield, Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg,” Weimer said.

Additional amenities will include ADA-compliant pathways, an asphalt parking lot with electric vehicle charging stations and public restrooms.