Communities to decide park’s status
BROWNSVILLE – Whether Patsy Hillman Park remains zoned for conservation or changes to agricultural/rural will be up to Brownsville Borough and Luzerne Township. Under the current zoning, motorized sports such as motocross races and quad races cannot be held at the park, eliminating a source of income that has helped to meet operating expenses at the park in past years. The park board was approached last year by Gerald Trainer, who proposed a lease agreement with the park for a quad track and trail system he would develop there.
Luzerne Township Supervisor Greg Downer questioned whether the park should be rezoned to allow motorized sports.
“We want to be able to generate some income for the park through activities without jeopardizing our grant opportunities,” said park board president Frank Ricco. “We don’t want to get away from being a community park.”
Brownsville Council President Jack Lawver suggested that every anticipated use of the park should be listed to determine the best zoning classification for the property.
In other matters, board member Gene Enfield said he has applied for a $5,000 grant through state Sen. Richard Kasunic for playground equipment that is expected to be approved. No matching funds would be required. Ricco said the park is also supposed to be getting some used playground equipment from the Fayette County Housing Authority when the playground equipment at Snowden Terrace is removed in June.
The board also discussed recent vandalism at the park. A railing at the Commissioners’ Pavilion was damaged recently and will require extensive repairs before the pavilion is safe for use. Lawver noted that there has been no further vandalism to the soccer field since an incident more than a month ago in which barriers were torn out of the ground and a truck tore up the field.
Lawver noted that Brownsville and Luzerne police have been patrolling the park at night with good results.
“They’ve picked up quite a few people lately, so the patrolling is helping,” Lawver said.
“All the ones that have been caught have been in cars and trucks. Word is getting out,” Downer said.