Fishing banned at Patsy Hillman Park until spring
LUZERNE TWP. – Fishing will be banned at the lake at Patsy Hillman Park until next spring so an algae problem can be addressed. The park board Wednesday voted to ban fishing as of Aug. 1 so a biologist working with the Izaak Walton League can use herbicide to treat the water. While the biologist has told park officials the herbicide won’t cause any problems downstream from the lake, the high concentration in the lake itself will make the fish inedible.
The Brownsville chapter of the Izaak Walton League, a nationwide conservation organization, has taken on the task of rehabilitating the lake by addressing the algae problem and agreeing to stock the lake next spring.
Park board president, Frank Ricco, said the park need to address the problem now, even though it will inconvenience local fishermen who use the lake.
“In the long haul, it will be the greatest thing that happened for them. There will be the kind of fish they want to fish for,” Ricco said. “When trout season opens next spring, they’ll be able to fish right here. We’ve never had that before.”
The park board also voted to expand the security system at the park. It was noted that vandalism has been greatly reduced around the Hillman and Commissioners pavilions since surveillance cameras were installed, but graffiti continues to be painted at the Luzerne pavilion and at the restrooms adjacent to it.
The board also voted to authorize Ricco to make arrangements with Pennoni Associates for a comprehensive plan to be prepared for the park. The plan is needed before the park is eligible for state grant programs.
Luzerne Township Supervisor Ron DeSalvo said he thinks the township has received notification that it will be getting a $10,000 grant to be used toward the cost of the plan. Brownsville Borough council member Tracy Sheehan Zivkovich said that once the park as the letter ensuring receipt of the grant, it should be able to move ahead with the work even though it doesn’t have the money in hand.
Park board member Gary Rable said there are continuing problems with all-terrain vehicles tearing up ball fields at the park. Board member Dave Povinale said he would meet with Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino to see what additional signage or regulations the park needs to have in place to successfully prosecute individuals who ride ATVs in the park.