Falls To Add Lights, Cameras At Quaker Penn Park

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — Falls Township supervisors on Tuesday took another step toward making Quaker Penn Park a more inviting place for guests, agreeing to a plan to add more lights and security cameras there.

Supervisors voted to award a bid to install lights and five or six cameras at the park's entrance and other locations. RF Design and Installation, of Bensalem, was awarded the bid at $62,858. The board rejected the lowest bid, which had too many errors, according to Falls Township attorney Lauren Gallagher.

The cameras and lights will be added as part of a larger improvement effort at the park, at 350 Pennsbury Memorial Rd., which had long been considered not much more than a glorified boat ramp.

Last year, supervisors approved riverfront cleanup, including the removal of dead trees to provide a better view, built a new playground and swings, moved picnic tables closer to the river and added three compost toilet facilities.

"We’re hoping the public will use it more," public works Director Jason Lawson said. "Hopefully Quaker Penn will become the next community park."

Public Works employees recently installed an underground electrical conduit and light pole bases in advance of the new work. The bulk of the park improvements are covered by a grant. Seventy-five percent of the total $237,180 project costs are funded by a Bucks County open space grant. Falls Township would pay the other 25 percent, or $59,295.

Officials say the park should be relatively maintenance-free for 20 years, other than the need to add fresh wood chips every few years.

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