Dec 3, 2014 2 min read

By sometime next summer, there should be a fence in place between neighbors in East Bethlehem Township and Ten Mile Creek County Park.

Those who own property adjacent to the park have an ongoing problem with park users trespassing in their yards, said Lisa Cessna, executive director of Washington County Planning Commission.

This past summer, a nude man was seen running through the park, and he allegedly tried to lure a girl behind a park bathroom.

Cessna asked the commissioners Wednesday at their agenda-setting meeting to advertise for bids for several types of fence at Ten Mile Creek, the county’s smallest park, which encompasses about 20 acres.

Cessna is also seeking a split-rail fence around a shelter and playground and along the walkway to the fishing pier at the Thompson Hill development of Cross Creek County Park, and better gates at the park boat launches on the Route 50 and Route 844 sides. The gates now in use are made of pipe.

“The priority is to get the split-rail installed at Thompson Hill first, so it can open in spring,” Cessna said. “Then we can talk to the contractor at that point if the gates or Ten Mile will be the next project.”

She considers the installation of a split-rail fence a safety issue becaues the playground and shelter stand on a steep hillside.

Costs of the installations will be paid with oil and gas revenue.