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Parks committee urges grant research after survey; supervisors ask for a plan and estimates
Summary
Tinicum’s parks-and-recreation committee presented survey results showing strong interest in low‑maintenance park improvements and recommended near‑term focus on Fort Brooks Park; the board authorized grant research and asked the committee to return with a written plan and cost estimates for budget consideration.
Robin Lochner, a member of Tinicum Township’s Parks and Recreation Committee, told the Board of Supervisors on July 7 that 320 people responded to a recent parks survey (201 online and 119 on paper) and that respondents prioritized low‑maintenance features such as meadows (32%) and additional benches or tables (25%). “In total, there was 320 total responses,” Lochner said, summarizing usage and preferences and recommending a near‑term emphasis on Fort Brooks Park and a return next year with comprehensive recommendations for Tinicum Community Park.
Kim Rosamilla, a township resident who provided public comment before the presentation, questioned the survey’s validity, saying it did not collect residency, age, or household information and could allow multiple responses by nonresidents. “The survey responses were gathered from both an online monkey survey and a questionnaire available at the polling sites,” Rosamilla said, adding that the absence of residency checks and demographic fields limited usefulness for taxpayer-funded decisions.
Board members and staff acknowledged both the value of new information and the concerns raised. The board’s chair said 320 responses provided more information than previously available but asked the committee to prepare a written plan and obtain estimates. Township manager Judith Danko and other supervisors explained procurement and grant practices: small purchases may use CoStars or three telephonic/written quotes depending on thresholds; larger projects require formal bids. “A plan is really what you need to do before you even go out to venture grants,” Danko said, noting that grant-makers expect plans and that the township needs clear cost estimates for budgeting.
Specific short-term requests discussed included mowing a 15‑square‑yard patch around a donated tree used at a tree‑lighting ceremony, converting an unused lawn area at Fort Brooks to meadow to reduce mowing costs, and resurfacing the tennis and basketball courts. The board deferred immediate mowing pending a site visit because of nesting season and concerns about damaging a plaque; supervisors asked the committee to present cost estimates and placements for benches and other improvements by the end of September so the items can be considered during fall budget sessions.
The board authorized the parks committee to research grant opportunities for Fort Brooks repairs and improvements and return in August with findings and potential match requirements. The committee was also asked to consult historical material (an email from former supervisor Nick Forte about the park’s history) and to discuss proposed pavilion naming with the Cooper family and Lenape naming options before making a formal recommendation.
The board stressed prioritization given competing capital needs (building improvements, public‑works equipment) and directed the committee to provide a clear plan, itemized costs and at least preliminary contractor quotes where appropriate. Next steps: the committee will research grants, obtain estimates and present a plan by the end of September for the 2027 budget process.
