Board restricts 2 acres at Firefighters Park and okays $500,000 rink renovation at Forsythia Crossing

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors on Feb. 5 authorized a deed restriction to ensure two acres added to Firefighters Park remain open recreation and approved a $500,000 contract to replace the hockey rink and install Musco LED lighting at Forsythia Crossing Park.

Parks Director Paul Coppara described the two‑acre addition (the ‘Comcast parcel’) as zoned open recreation and said the deed restriction would codify its permanent status. The board approved the authorization by voice vote, 5‑0.

Coppara also presented a renovation plan for the Forsythia Crossing rink that includes new boards, resurfacing, two 50‑foot Musco light poles, conduit and junction boxes for future trail lighting, trimming overhanging limbs, and contingency work for geotechnical issues near a Mill Creek tributary. The project is intended to remain within a $500,000 budget cap tied to a partial DCED grant intake. The board authorized Armor and Sons Electric (via a CoStars contract) to manage installation and construction work; the motion carried 5‑0.

Later in the meeting township staff announced a $229,000 PennDOT grant to install modern accessible pedestrian signal (APS) push buttons at eight intersections along the Woodburn and New Falls Road corridors. Township officials said the APS work likely will begin late in 2024 and extend into 2025.

Board members and staff framed the rink and APS work as grant‑leveraged improvements and said the new Musco LED lighting carries a long warranty and low operating cost.