(7/17) On Saturday, July 16, Freedom Township officially opened its Municipal Park following the completion of Phase one, which included construction of a 40 by 36-foot picnic pavilion, 6 parking spaces, 8 picnic tables, a charcoal grill, corn hole boards, horseshoe pits, and a rain garden.
In 2018, the Freedom Township Board of Supervisors and Adams County Office of Planning and Development partnered and completed a park and recreation study to create an official Township policy to guide parks and recreation development, priorities, and activities within the Township from 2018 to 2025.
The study worked to quantify Freedom Township residents' outdoor recreation needs, determine adequate financial support for recreational facilities, provide a realistic plan for the provision of facilities; and connect residents to nearby recreational opportunities and green space, Township Manager Zach Gulden said.
The results of the study concluded that Freedom Township should require a mandatory land dedication of 24 acres of recreation land per new dwelling unit, the payment of a recreation fee-in-lieu of land dedication of $1,809 or a combination of both for new residential developments. This was approved by the supervisors in 2018 for all new residential developments proposing 5 or more units,
The survey noted the development of recreation facilities should primarily accommodate the passive recreation and fitness needs of older households.
Given the existing deficit of both recreation lands and recreation facilities, the survey noted Freedom Township should consider the development of one neighborhood / community scale park that should be located near the US Route 15 and Emmitsburg Road interchange.
Under the leadership of Chairman Allen Beckett and Vice-Chairman Paul Kellett, the township researched grants and planning for the creation of the Freedom Township Municipal Park. A proposed park site plan was presented to the public during a parks and recreation workshop in 2020.
The park’s second Phase will include construction of a quarter mile loop trail, benches, and fitness stations. Phase 3 will include the construction of a soccer field with bleachers.
Funding sources include the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Small Community Grant, Adams County Parks and Recreation, and Green Space Grant, National Association of Realtors and Realtors Association of York & Adams County Incorporated.
Additional grants that made the project possible included $70,000 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $25,000 from Adams County, $5,000 from York Adams Realtors Association, a $6,200 seed/straw/labor donation from Allen Beckett Construction, a $2,050 stone donation from Specialty Granules, $1,000 from the Salisbury family, $500 from Tim and Tammy Shields, and $500 from Adams Electric.
