Abington plans $1.3 million in ARPA-funded field renovations; pavilions and trails to follow

Abington Township staff told commissioners on Aug. 14 that the township intends to spend $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on renovations at multiple active ball fields and to install or rehab pavilions at several parks, with bids for field work to go out in October and construction planned for January–April 2026.

The township’s assistant manager, Ashley McElmaine, and Jessica Tholley, director of parks and recreation, told the Board of Commissioners they engaged Carroll Engineering to evaluate parks and prepare preliminary cost estimates and bid documents. McElmaine said the township must spend the ARPA funds by Dec. 31, 2026, and that staff intend to “spend every dollar” to improve parks while minimizing impacts to teams and regular field users.

Why it matters: The plan would touch most of Abington’s active parks and aims to preserve seasonal play and community rentals while stretching ARPA dollars through in-house demolition and labor where feasible.

Staff showed commissioners a list of active parks targeted for work and described a consistent set of improvements: replacing backstops, bleachers and field benches, adding dugouts at select sites, and full field reestablishment where heavy use has degraded turf. McElmaine and Tholley said the township prioritized “active parks” (sites with ball fields and heavy organized use); passive parks and trail improvements will be evaluated separately.

Planned schedule and scope - Fields: Authorization to bid is expected in October, a motion to award in December and field construction between January and April 2026 to reduce impact on seasonal play. McElmaine said staff plan optional bid add-ons so higher-priority items would be awarded first if funds limit scope. - Pavilions and trails: These will be prioritized after field work; staff plan to seek authorization to bid in February 2026 with potential awards and construction through August 2026. Lighting at Crestmont and Roychester was flagged as conditional on final bid pricing.

Site-specific examples discussed by staff included Albatore Park (rehab of the pavilion that seats about 200, backstops and bleachers), Ardsley (two Little League fields: backstops, bleachers, field benches, dugouts and a full field renovation), Conway Field (limited gap work to extend existing backstops), Crestmont (backstops, dugouts and potential lighting), Marsden Field (soil and grass replacement and a new small pavilion between the skate park and the new playground), and Roychester Park (reconfiguring lower Barrett Field, including a retaining wall to shift the field away from the road and the inclusive playground).

Commissioners and residents asked about prioritization and timing. McElmaine said Parks & Recreation identified needs and staff worked with Carroll Engineering on scope and cost estimates; bid packages will include “musts” and optional add-ons so the township can award core items if funds are limited. Tholley said some fields will need topographic work and will be more involved than others.

Public comment and next steps Resident comments included a request that the Boy Scout Preserve be added to the list of sites receiving attention; a speaker on Zoom, Laura Lehman of Meadowbrook, urged the township to address weeds and maintenance at that preserve.

Staff requested commissioner feedback during August and plan to return to the board with bid authorization in October and an award recommendation in December. No formal vote on the ARPA project was taken on Aug. 14.

The board approved meeting minutes from the June 12 working session at the start of the Aug. 14 meeting.