Volunteers study renderings for the re-design of Gerald Richards Park, as a representative of Simone Collins explained the concept during December (2010).
SANATOGA PA – Planning for Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township’s newest open space, as well as its most popular one, continues tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011) at 6:30 p.m. in Sanatoga’s Sunnybrook Ballroom. Residents and volunteers will gather to discuss a rookie recreational venue, Pleasantview Park on North Pleasant View Road, and a veteran one, Gerald Richards Park on Buchert Road.
Envisioning new and reconsidering current facilities at Pleasantview and Richards, respectively, is the task of a six-month series of meetings being conducted by township officials and their landscape architects, Simone Collins of Norristown PA, and being paid for primarily from state funds. The open-to-the-public discussions are scheduled through April 26.
The parks seem to be inextricably linked by not only their proximity – they are less than a mile apart on the township’s east side – but by what are increasingly seen as their target uses: playing fields for sports of all kinds that are likely to attract good-sized crowds on week nights and weekends.
That role for Pleasantview, should volunteers think it best, will be sometime in the future. It now sits as a vacant farming field at the corner of North Pleasant View and Bliem roads. The millions of dollars needed to turn the empty land into a multi-purpose park probably won’t be available for several years, and will in part depend on a residential real estate market that has yet to rebound.
The Pleasantview property is relatively flat, unencumbered by trees or vegetation, and surrounded, so far, by few neighbors. That will change if developers have their way. Township officials believe its current characteristics make it ideally suited for playing fields. Critics think it should be left passive and natural, for much the same reasons.
Richards Park, on the other hand, has offered decades of service to those who love the outdoors. A former landing area for small airplanes, it got its start in recreation as Chrusch Field, and later was more fully developed and renamed to honor the township Board of Commissioners’ long-time president, Gerald Richards. Teams playing a wide variety of sports pack into it almost nightly during the spring, summer and fall.
Concept 1 for Gerald Richards Park ...
Richards has its problems, though. Water drainage there is poor, and makes some fields unplayable for days after a storm. Parking, particularly on weekends, is charitably described as “tight.” And because usage is high and field space is limited, scheduling conflicts occasionally arise.
To address those and other issues, Simone Collins has created three proposals for Richards. One represents a reuse and improvement of existing facilities. The other two contemplate a wholesale make-over of its acreage with new facilities and incorporating space surrounding the Coventry Christian School that abuts the park on its southeast side. Coventry is already talking with the township about how that combination might work.
... Concept 2 ...
In any of the three, the sports emphasis at Richards is soccer. Each of the three plans includes up to 21 soccer fields for teams of varying ages and abilities, a limited number of softball and baseball fields, a small number of both basketball and tennis courts, and far more parking. They keep, and expand upon, the walking trail system many adults rely on during warmer weather.
.. and Concept 3.
They also include not one but two or three storm water management ponds to solve Richards’ drainage issues. One is big enough that it may be developed as a wetland preserve.
Related (to Pleasantview Park development):
- At Richards Park, Planning Foresees New Uses, Re-uses
- Crucial Meeting Ahead For Township’s Pleasantview Park
- Fledgling Park Gets A Name
This township only needs so many ball and soccer fields. Given the Richards park planning I propose that the Bleim road park be a more natural setting incorporating walkways, small ponds, trees and relaxation environment. A couple of natural playground areas, a large-scale level bicycle/walking trail, perhaps a covered pavilion for rent or two with adjacent parking. We need to retain some open space.
Another thing to bear in mind is the need to eventually provide water services to the developments that will be forthcoming with economic upturn. The park sits at a highpoint for most of the township and can provide water at gravity fed pressure for a large area. This might also allow for the installation of Fire Hydrants at the east side of Pleasant View.
Throwing a couple of cut and paste ball field graphics on a plat plan does not make planning. Determining present and future needs, and taking into account all the current park spaces and utility thereof and intelligently looking forward to the future with the finite space we have, is planning.