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Township hears park update; residents press to make Skywood accessible
Summary
Park representative Patty reviewed the ARC history, funding ($3 per resident) and recent amenities; residents urged action after disc-golf additions, saying a wheelchair-fitting gateway "does not make it ADA compliant." Patty will raise access and parking changes at the park committee meeting.
Patty, the township representative to the multi-town ARC park board, outlined the agreement’s history and recent park projects and faced questions from residents about accessibility at Skywood.
Patty said the municipalities began buying the three parcels with county open-space funds in 2002 and formalized the partnership in 2004; Mount Pocono later withdrew and a 2019 amendment revised membership. She told the board the ARC arrangement funds maintenance by charging each township $3 per resident based on census counts and described past grant-supported features such as baseball fields at 7 Pines and a disc-golf course at Skywood. She said the board is planning two pickleball courts at 7 Pines and is working to replace an underused fitness trail.
Why this matters: residents said recent additions like disc golf change the park’s use and its legal accessibility obligations. Christina Esposito said the park is not accessible for people with disabilities and warned, “a wheelchair around the gate does not make it ADA compliant,” pressing the township to open the inner gate at least during business hours or provide a consistent unlocking procedure.
Patty acknowledged the concern and said staff are exploring options: expanding the parking area to shorten walking distance, and whether staff could be available to unlock the gate on request. She cited vandalism and the remote access to Skywood as reasons the gate has been kept locked. Other residents, including Carla, said opening the inner gate could improve access but may also create safety concerns; Carla said, “If the wheelchairs could get around the gate, then so could the vandals.”
The board committed to follow up: Patty will bring the accessibility and parking questions to the next park committee meeting and the township board will revisit the issue after that meeting. No formal action or vote was taken at the workshop.
