(6/20) Hamiltonban Township is excited to announce that Phase 1 of the Hamiltonban Community Park is currently underway. This has been an exciting project long in the works for the township, dating back to 2007, when the idea of a community park was first introduced. The Hamiltonban Township and Fairfield Borough Joint Parks and Recreation Commission members are pleased to bring grant/tax money back to the citizens of Hamiltonban Township and Fairfield Borough to promote healthy exercise and recreation.

Phase 1 is completely funded by a Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) received back in March 2015 in the amount of $53,000. In addition, a grant in the amount of $15,000 was received from Wellspan Health and will be used to fund Phase 1.

The play structure, which was purchased by the Township at the end of 2016, was erected during the last week of June, along with the pavilion. In addition to the equipment being installed, the township has also advertised for bids for the remainder of the work for Phase 1. This includes the excavation work and material placement for the first 400 feet of walking path, paving of two handicap parking areas, fencing between the park area and maintenance facility area, and build abutments for the walking bridge that will be built by the Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout Project. Hamiltonban Supervisors hope that this bid will be awarded at the beginning of July with work to be completed soon after.

After the heavy equipment portion of the project is complete, the Commission will begin gathering dedicated volunteers to put together the picnic tables, benches, grills and work with the Boy Scouts on two more projects - the Flag Dedication area (funding provided by the Fairfield AmVets) and a park kiosk. Phase 1, in its entirety, is not expected to be complete until late August, but residents will begin to notice the park coming together over the next two months.

The grant process for Phase 2 of the project is already underway. The grant award for the second Phase is expected to be announced in October by DCNR with a second round of construction during the summer of 2018 that will include completion of the first path loop, swings, a pollinator meadow with split rail fencing, heritage and cultural interpretive panels, adult work-out stations, and some of the park signage. The Commission has received additional donations from the community as well as a third grant from Adams County Parks, Recreation and Green Space in the amount of $23,625.

The Commission is continuing their fund raising efforts to complete the third and final phase hopefully in 2019 or 2020. Phase 3 will add a smaller path loop around the pond area, add more educational signage with additional trees, plantings and split rail fencing.