Well, went to the Melchiorre Park discussion tonight and was able to find out the following. Despite the fact it has been described as a 23 acre park, there is really only about 10 acres of usable land. The rest is either too hilly or wooded. On that 10 acres, the plan is to build two softball fields. Dissecting those two fields will be a multi-use field that is the size of a regulation soccer field.
In addition, two buildings will be on the property. One will be used as a gymnasium that is big enough for two basketball courts. The other, smaller building, will be made up of locker rooms, offices, and classrooms/meeting rooms.
Throughout the park will be paths that will circle the fields as well as lead down to two trails that frame French Creek. From these trails will be various paths to the creek to allow for fishing.
These plans are considered the 'pre-final' plans. What this means is that, after a couple of years of study, this is the way things appear to be heading. A number of questions were asked but none really challenged the overall design. Some suggestions included a skate park as well as additional parking (current plan is for a little over 100 spots).
All things said, it seems as if completion of the park is a ways off. Apparently, the next step is to finalize the design. Once that is done, they will start to go through the cost of what they have proposed to see what stays and what goes. Then, they will start to actually build everything.
In addition, two buildings will be on the property. One will be used as a gymnasium that is big enough for two basketball courts. The other, smaller building, will be made up of locker rooms, offices, and classrooms/meeting rooms.
Throughout the park will be paths that will circle the fields as well as lead down to two trails that frame French Creek. From these trails will be various paths to the creek to allow for fishing.
These plans are considered the 'pre-final' plans. What this means is that, after a couple of years of study, this is the way things appear to be heading. A number of questions were asked but none really challenged the overall design. Some suggestions included a skate park as well as additional parking (current plan is for a little over 100 spots).
All things said, it seems as if completion of the park is a ways off. Apparently, the next step is to finalize the design. Once that is done, they will start to go through the cost of what they have proposed to see what stays and what goes. Then, they will start to actually build everything.
Comments
Didn't they pay $1.? MILLION for the property? Shocking that only 10 acres of the 23 are actually usable.
What a raw deal. By the time they get done paying for the consultants, engineering and actually building the fields and buildings, the total cost of the 10acres with improvements will be in the neighborhood $2 million.
Too much money for too little return.
What were they thinking?
There are too many other things the boro needs before it needs 2 softball fields and a gym on top of a fly ash dump for a couple of million dollars.
Whada waste.
Gym seems a little strange.
http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FPVN%2FHome&r21.content=%2FPVN%2FHome%2FTopStoryList_Story_1194734
The Borough shouldn't be trying to duplicate what the Y does. As long as we have the property, we might as well do something with it, but with only 10 acres "useable" and no walking access for those who live on the North Side, I think the concept should be more nature-oriented.
Put up some more townhomes, have some trails, and let the rest become a nature sanctuary. Since it's right on French Creek it would be good for birds and amphibians.