PINE GROVE — Borough residents and local sports coaches want to get the ball rolling on a project to turn 67 acres of unused land into a multi-field recreation park.
Lynne Umbenhauer, councilwoman and member of the Sports and Fitness Committee, said Monday 20 to 25 people attended a special meeting March 27 to discuss to project.
The committee was formed in March to head the park on the borough-owned land along Route 443 in Pleasant Valley.
“We got great response and we found that there is a dire need of extra fields for games, for practices,” Umbenhauer said. “There’s more kids now than ever.”
Volunteers will start by creating parking space so people can access one softball field already on the land, she said, adding that volunteers will clear brush to make the spaces.
“They want to start using it again as soon as possible but they have to address the parking,” Umbenhauer said. “That one field that is there now will be tied into everything else.”
The existing field fell out of use because of the parking situation, she said, adding people parked along Route 443 and created an unsafe condition.
Cleanup work also needs to be done at the site, she said.
County President Timothy Peters announced at the March 13 meeting the creation of the Sports and Fitness Committee to create a recreation area using grants, community help and business help. He said there was enough room on the land to make three to eight soccer or football fields, four softball fields, a baseball field, a possible community center, a playground and a possible miniature golf area.
Umbenhauer said since the March 27 meeting produced a favorable community response, the borough will discuss at the April 10 meeting hiring a project engineer to draw up a plan for the land.
“You always have the ones that say, ‘Don’t you think we have enough?’ Or ‘Where’s the money gong to come from?’ But it’s not going to come from tax dollars,” she said.
Umbenhauer reiterated Peters’ March 13 comment that the project would be completed through volunteerism and grants.
Peters did not return phone calls Tuesday for comment.
“It’s going to be mainly on the volunteers’ head,” Umbenhauer said. “If they really want this, if they feel there’s need, then they’re going to have to help ... It’s going to take a long time to get it done and it’s going to be done in phases.”
Yep Thanks.
I drove by yesterday & Saw the old Ballfield Behind a House.
The Grass is High like Hay.
But the Poles for the Backstop are standing.
I'll have to Look into the race track.
Looking at Penn Pilot
I Can't see it in the 1939 Arial View
But it appears to be there in the 1971 Arial
May be a personal Trotting Track, There was one about 2 mile
north west of there. that was used in the 70's
Or Bike Track. if you look close there is a Driveway comes down
to it. And the Creek runs through it lengthwise.
There is or was a Paintball Course Just to the East of it.
What's the world comming to? Jeff...you didn't know about this...in your own back yard??
Being the research Guru you are...I'm suprised!
Looks like a good site tho and you caught it in the local paper...that works for me too.
Heck jeff, we all miss what's under our noses sometimes.
Al
Yes I can't believe I missed the ball field
After the amount of times I'v driven by that house.
I guess The poles of the Backstop Just Never said
"Backstop" to me, Or I never glanced behind that house.
In my defense You Must turn your head Hard while driving by
to actually catch it for 2 seconds tops
at 45MPH. 1 second each side of house
If that track is as Obvious next time I drive By
I'll .......... well ..... I don't know what I'll do :P
Still think the track is Fairly new and either
the people there Have or Had Horses,
Or they Have or Had Dirt bikes.
There was an old Amusement park out that road
that is long gone, But I Think I'v
Located that about 2 miles fruther out of Pine grove
on the other side of the road.
I understand the 2 second glimpse thing...what's that little bygone town along Route 6 that's in the bend in the road....you blink and you miss it. Can't remember it but was some religeous sect that established it. I remember how we used to joke about it as we drove by every year. I think there is still a mansion there, although i dont know if it's historic, abandoned or what.
But...like you said...sometimes we just move too fast to see things. Everyone hates the Rt.28 construction traffic here where you inch along quite a few miles.
I love it...well...sometimes if i'm not running too late for work.
I get to check out all the old nooks and crannies they left from building the highway back in the 60's, old foundations, abandoned railroad tracks...
NASCAR, whent he series was known as "Grand National" raced there once in the 50's.
10/14/51 Tim Flock won the 33rd race of the series at Pine Grove. He bested 20 cars on the 1/2 dirt oval in his '51 Oldmobile. The purse for the 100 mile race was $3450.
Bet you didn't know what was in your back yard either.
I'll get more shortly. I know a few racing history buffs.
Erik
Coin collecting is a lot like life, it stopped being fun a long time ago.
-Homer Simpson
SCHOENTOWN near Pottsville, MATES Near Auburn,
And GOLD MINE RACEWAY near Tower City are the only
Defunct Dirt Tracks that definately had Auto Races in my area.
that I'm aware of. of coursse a couple fair grounds did also
MATES In about 1955
Would Love to search that Bank
So far No Go, But Still Havn't talked Directly to the Owner,
Just his Workers.
I understand the 2 second glimpse thing...what's that little bygone town along Route 6 that's in the bend in the road....you blink and you miss it. Can't remember it but was some religeous sect that established it. I remember how we used to joke about it as we drove by every year. I think there is still a mansion there, although i dont know if it's historic, abandoned or what.
But...like you said...sometimes we just move too fast to see things. Everyone hates the Rt.28 construction traffic here where you inch along quite a few miles.
I love it...well...sometimes if i'm not running too late for work.
I get to check out all the old nooks and crannies they left from building the highway back in the 60's, old foundations, abandoned railroad tracks...
Just slowing down to smell the roses.
Al
This interests me very much..where exactly is this mansion/house in Pine Grove..I have lived there my entire life, but am not really sure whereabouts you are thinking...Also there is a very nice spot that i drove past last summer it is past the McDonalds and the road runs along I-81..it seems to be an old ?summer camp? with ponds and picnic building that were once painted white and green..i saw it while driving to the high bridge damn.
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? Jeff...you didn't know about this...in your own back yard
Originally Posted by deepskyal
