Cross Creek Township unveils new park facilities
A view of the playground and bathroom facilities under the new pavilion at Cedar Grove Park that seats 120 people
A closer look at the playground, which opened in 2008
The kitchen and concession facilities at Cedar Grove Park
A look inside the new pavilion
Four dozen butterflies will be released Friday to honor former Cross Creek Township supervisor John Rush, who died in 2009 before he could see one of the projects he was passionate about come to completion.
The opening of new pavilion facilities in Cedar Grove Park at 26 Ferguson St. isn’t all somber remembrance, but a community celebration. Before a screening of the movie “Zootopia,” there will be face painting, a Father’s Day craft project and concessions. The 6:30 p.m. opening ceremony marks the second phase of a three-part project since the playground at the park opened in 2008.
“I wish we had something like this for when my kids were in school (at Avella Area School District), because we always had to go to other facilities for parties and celebrations. This is something worth celebrating in its own right. It’s a beautiful facility for our residents and neighbors,” said township Supervisor Gary Stokum.
Phase two of the three-part project included the pavilion, a kitchen and bathroom facilities at a cost of $384,876. A grant from the Department of Conservation and Resources worth $91,000 helped to fund the project and another $55,000 was earned through the township’s parks and recreation department fundraising through purse auctions and murder mystery dinners.
“A lot of credit should go to our manager, Rachel (Warner Blosser), who really beat the bushes for grants and pushed fundraising. But this was a community effort. Alex Paris donated plumbing and labor, Washington Financial paid for our appliances in the kitchen … and without Act 13 gas money, this really couldn’t have happened either,” Stokum said.
Phase three will depend on a future Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to be awarded in the fall, which would help pay for a rubberized multipurpose court for sports, Blosser said. Township residents can rent the pavilion for $150, while nonresidents can rent it for $250. Events with alcohol can be hosted for an additional $75 and weekdays are booked at half price. The pavilion has free wi-fi internet access.