1. Concept Plan for Proposed Park Near Hopewell School
Presentation to Southern Lehigh School Board Facilities Committee
April 25, 2012

2. Park Concept Plan
6 Athletic Fields
Walking Trail
Parking Area
Restrooms
Tot Lot
Basketball Court
Tennis Courts
Nature Study area

3. Community Benefits
Addresses community need for additional playing fields and recreation facilities.
Increased parking capacity for school events.
Use of wetlands as environmental study area for students.
Park within walking distance of adjacent neighborhoods (over 600 homes).
Road network makes site easily accessible.
Opportunity to link together open space holdings for larger community park.

4. Challenges Cost to construct: $2.7 Million Floodplain Power lines
Need to obtain approx. 24 acres from developer through zoning change.
Need permission from School District to locate playing fields/facilities behind Hopewell Elementary School.

5. Can We Work Together? School District concerns:
Security fencing near existing school building (2 locations).
Parking lot gate to secure SLSD parking areas.
Impact of new parking areas on impervious cover calculations for the SLSD property (current: ~12%, allowed: 30% in R-2 district).
Location of overflow parking areas and restrictions.
Adjust property lines so each field/facility is located entirely on SLSD or Township property.
Ability to expand existing school building
likely area for expansion is the proposed baseball field
consider reasonable limitations on expansion
relocation or reimbursement provisions
Other concerns?

6. Next Steps Township and School District must enter into agreement:
School District concerns
Township will pay for construction of all playing fields and parking areas.
Operations, Maintenance, and Use of fields/facilities
Land Swap/Adjust property lines
Township must approve developer’s zoning change request for Age-Qualified Community (AQC).
Developer’s request to be heard by Board of Supervisors at June 18 meeting
Acquire 24 acres of open space from developer through zoning change
AQC development will have less impact on school enrollment and traffic, while preserving the tax base.
Township received DCNR grant for Master Site Plan for park on W. Hopewell Road.
Public planning process, including planning committee and public input. School District to be represented on committee.
Township Engineer to finalize park plans and permitting process.
Township needs to finance project
Apply for grants: DCNR, Lehigh County Green Futures
Action Plan to move project forward…

7. Thank You for Allowing Us to Present this Concept Plan for Proposed Park Near Hopewell School