North Huntingdon OKs study for Oak Hollow improvements

North Huntingdon has hired a consulting engineer to develop a master plan of recommended improvements to the township’s 127-acre Oak Hollow Park.

KU Resources Inc. of Duquesne was directed to develop a site plan to outline what would be appropriate development for what township leaders consider the community’s flagship park. Oak Hollow, along Morris Avenue, has several picnic groves, six pavilions, playgrounds, soccer fields, a disc golf course, basketball court, nature trials and a 1½-acre fishing pond.

North Huntingdon needs a master plan for the park in order to apply for funding with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources next year to help pay for any new amenities there, said Harry Faulk, township manager. The plan would include cost estimates for improvements, Faulk said.

Faulk said the township has not yet determined a cost for developing the master plan.

If the township were to receive a grant for improvements, it would have to match the state funding, dollar for dollar, Faulk said. If the grant process is successful, Faulk said, the township could break ground on projects in fall 2024.

A KU Resources spokesman could not be reached for comment.

The commissioners in April heard another request from a resident to consider creating a recreation center in the municipality to provide a place for youth to gather and be active.

“There’s no place to go,” said Angelo Houston, noting that the closest YMCA is in Greensburg. “We have nothing like that.”

The township might be able to acquire an empty building, such as a church, that could be used as a recreation center, Houston said.

The commissioners, however, showed no interest in buying property for a recreation center. If it wanted to sell unused township property, such as land at the public works building site, that would have to go through a bidding process, said Bruce Dice, township solicitor.

Commissioner Ron Zona said he does not believe the township should be operating a recreation center.

“I think the township should stay out of that business,” Zona said.

After any initial cost for creating a recreation center, it would cost money to operate and maintain it, Zona said. He suggested it would be best developed by a private enterprise.

“It’s foolish to run it in the long-term,” Zona said.

Commissioner Virginia Stump suggested the township could construct a pole building on flat ground at Oak Hollow Park that would not have to be open all of the time. A nonprofit might be able to operate it, she added.

The township has other priorities where money is needed, Faulk said, including road paving, stormwater management and repairs to the dam at Indian Lake Park.

Commissioner Rick Gray questioned how many recreation centers would have to be built in a township that is spread over 27 square miles. No one site would be convenient to all the residents.

The biggest hurdle would be the cost of building and operating a center, said Commissioner Zachary Haigis.

A study 12 years ago estimated the cost at $18 million for a center with indoor facilities and a swimming pool. Paying for it would have saddled the township with an annual debt estimated at $1 million. Voters rejected the idea.

Commissioner Jason Atwood had raised the possibility of a recreation center in January 2022, but said the previous proposal for a center became too expensive.