Township Moves Ahead with Devon Circle Playground

South Whitehall commissioners are moving ahead with in the Devon Circle area of Springhill estates.

Residents have been pushing for the playground for about a year, making pleas at commissioners' budget and regular meetings.

They were back to address the commissioners again last week.

Devon Circle resident Michelle Maurer wanted an update on the proposal, and noted that she was disheartened to hear that Rothrock Motors, which plans to build was asking for a reduction in the recreation fee imposed on his plan. She noted that the fee would help cover the cost of the playground in her neighborhood.

Maurer had support from several commissioners, including Dale Daubert and Thomas Johns, who said the playground project has been on hold too long. 

Daubert and Johns said it was time to get the playground built.  

They agreed that funds realized from the Rothrock recreation fees would be enough to cover the remainder of the cost of the playground. Daubert also said the board has discretionary power to allocate funds for the project should the fees run short.

“I don’t want to hear about getting it started,” said Daubert. “I want to see it finished. Let’s get the damn thing built.”   

The commissioners  for improvements to the  in this year's budget, but before the work proceeded, they had been waiting for open space funds to become available. 

Director of Administration Tony Ganguzza said the recreation fees to cover the project was short about $4,000. He said the commissioners at last week's meeting approved using $4,000 from the general fund, if necessary, to get the project done but he thinks the township will have enough money from the recreation fees to cover the cost as the project proceeds.

Devon Circle residents had attended a meeting of the township Parks and Recreation board last summer and asked to have a small playground built on a 2-plus-acre property bordered by Route 22 to the south.

They explained that when the development was built, the area was set aside for a playlot. 

Maurer had spoken to the board about the number of children in the neighborhood who would benefit from a playground. She polled her neighbors and collected signatures, all supporting the proposal.