Jun 18, 2013 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Allegheny County officials say they plan to request bids for natural gas drilling under a public park.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald says Tuesday that the county could get up to $700,000 a year in royalty payments for drilling under Deer Lake Park, which is about 20 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. There could also be a one-time signing bonus of $2 to $4 million.

Officials say no development would be allowed on park land. Companies who have leases for private property around the park would set up rigs there and be allowed to drill horizontally under the park.

Fitzgerald says the county has buildings, ball fields and playgrounds that need to be refurbished, and the drilling money could help with that.