Finance committee advances Sunny Willow–Twining Valley Park easements to legislative review

On Jan. 21, 2026, the Upper Dublin School District finance committee voted to advance two proposed easements for review by the district's legislative board after a presentation by township parks staff.

Derek Doreka, identified in the meeting as the Upper Dublin Township parks and recreation director, told the committee the project — internally called the Sunny Willow Connection — would link Sunny Willow Swim Club, Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School property and Twining Valley Park via a formal trail. “We did receive that grant from DCNR,” Doreka said, describing a perpetual trail easement purchased from Sunny Willow Swim Club and construction documents that make the project “shovel ready.” He said the township plans to file two grant applications this spring to fund construction, with a target to build in 2027 if grant funding is secured.

Doreka described two easements: a trail easement and a utility easement for a water line. The utility line would run from School Lane to the dog‑park area and provide a reliable water source for the Fort Washington Fire Company training grounds, which currently rely on wells. The township said its public works department would take the water main farther as needed.

Committee members pressed for operational details. When asked who would handle winter clearing, Doreka said the trail is not a legal sidewalk and day‑to‑day snow clearing would be the district’s choice: “If it was on…school property, they would be responsible,” he said, while also noting the township’s agreement includes long‑term maintenance obligations (such as repaving) and the township would install “no winter maintenance” signs as a precursor from a liability standpoint.

Administrators told the committee the easements would have minimal impact on Thomas Fitzwater property and would improve walking access for nearby neighborhoods; Doreka estimated the connection would serve more than 600 homes and could create routes that reduce the need for busing for some students. The township said Sunny Willow has signed the easement but the utility easement also needs signature/recording with Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority before grant applications can be submitted.

After discussion, the finance committee had no objections and verbally approved moving both easement items forward to the legislative meeting for formal consideration by the full board. The committee recorded no final acceptance of the easements themselves; that action remains with the legislative board.