Rec Board Asks: Do you Know Where Lower Milford Park Is?

The Lower Milford Recreation and Open Space Board discussed promoting awareness for the Community Park and future buildings plans.

The Board also reviewed the Fall Festival, plans for an unofficial map, and a rewrite of the Sub-division and Land Development Ordinance.

Vice Chair Lori Sickenberger addressed ways to promote awareness of the Lower Milford Community Park. The park, located by the Township Municipal Building, is four acres with a path circling around.”A huge issue is a lack of them knowing,” said Boardmember Donna Wright on promoting awareness.

Boardmember Donna Wright noted Souther Lehigh Girls' Lacrosse used the field for practice and the distance to the school. The Board discussed advocating further use of the park with Southern Lehigh School District. “It's well worth contacting Southern Lehigh,” said Wright.

Future buildings to the park were discussed as a way to promote awareness. Boardmembers floated ideas for a gazebo, playground equipment, and other options. “We're looking at bigger items of that nature,” said Wright on installing a pavilion.

Funding for the park comes from the Fall Festival's Silent Auction. In 2010 the auction made $2,085. Board member Ron Thornton discussed ways volunteering workers could aid in future development and awareness for the park.

In other business, the board reported on the rewriting of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. The SALDO works with Township ordinance as a guide for developers. Lower Milford rewrote the Zoning Ordinance four years earlier and is rewriting the SALDO to comply with the update.

An unofficial open space map was discussed by the Board. The map would allow the Board to plan for the future development of roads, trails, and open space. An official map was estimated to cost $15,000 and would have the strength of an ordinance compared to an unofficial map costing $100. “We can use it as an overview,” said Sickenberger of the unofficial map.

Board members discussed the Fall Festival held September 24^th. Forecasts warned of rain and the festival was marked by overcast skies. The Board noted about half as many attendees as usual. 11 of the 48 vendors did not attend the festival.

Though the turnout was smaller, there were some bright spots. Vendor Smokin Smitty's was reported to have sold out during the event and Dan Schantz had sold all of their pumpkins having to send for more. “[The festival] was an outstanding event,”said Wright.