Jul 3, 2016 3 min read

It was good news to hear last month that the Greene County commissioners decided to lease property at the Wisecarver reservoir in Franklin Township from Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority to create a new park.

Under the proposed agreement, the county is to lease a portion of the 380 acres of land the authority owns that surrounds the 18-acre reservoir for 99 years for $10.

The commissioners said the county plans to seek state grants and contributions from foundations and businesses to develop the property. A park probably will not be created overnight, they said, but work can be done by bits and pieces if and when grant money or donations become available.

We believe a park at the reservoir is a good idea. It will provide county residents with an inviting recreational area fairly close to Waynesburg, and area sportsmen with a much-needed fishing lake.

Creating a park at the reservoir was actually the main reason the authority rehabilitated the dam several years ago.

At the time, the reservoir had not been used by the authority for a water supply for more than 10 years.

After the authority was required by the state to partially drain the lake in late 2005 because of repairs needed to the dam, the authority even discussed removing the dam.

Developing a park at the site was an idea introduced by a task force formed to explore new recreational opportunities in the county following the loss of Duke Lake at Ryerson Station State Park.

The task force, with the authority’s support, was able to obtain state grant money both to develop a master plan for the park and to repair the dam, which cost about $2.2 million. The original idea was for the water authority, the county and Franklin Township to create a new recreational authority that would find additional money to develop the park and to maintain and operate it.

Restoring the dam following the repairs, however, took longer than expected after the state required the authority to complete lengthy tests to make sure water was not infiltrating the ground beneath the spillway and a problem was revealed with a drainage line and valve beneath the dam.

Interest in forming the authority also waned as the economy crashed and businesses and corporations that were expected to contribute to the project tightened their belts and the county and township became reluctant to assume the burden.

The proposed master plan for the park showed the property being developed primarily at the southern end of the reservoir where the land is relatively level and easily accessible from Wisecarver Road.

The park was to include ball fields, a children’s play area, camping and recreation areas, a boat launch, a walking trail, a cross-country trail, picnic areas and pavilions.

Though all these amenities would be nice, we agree with the commissioners that they have to be done all at once and can’t wait until money becomes available.

For now, simply clearing the thick trees and brush that surround the lake to create an area where people could gain easier access to the water would be a plus.

We commend the water authority and the commissioners for sharing the same idea and coming to an agreement in regard to the property. It could lead to making good public use of what is a very beautiful area.