What is the plan for Eagle View Park and how is it being funded?
The Township purchased the old Mid-Atlantic Golf Course in 2011 with the plan to begin the development of a park and the expansion of the Township Building and Garage spaces. After some change-over in representation on the Board of Supervisors, the decision was made to add the 50-acre Golf Course parcel to the Township Building’s site utilizing the subdivision and land development process, making the properties one parcel. The construction project for the Garage moved forward through late 2017 until final completion in the spring of 2019.
While this work to Garage area was underway, planning for the initial master Plan of Eagle View Park was conducted including a public meeting in February 2018 to obtain input. Having a formal Master Plan would allow the Township to apply for grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In conjunction with this planning project, the Township determined through its consultant Land Studies, that there was an opportunity to restore the streams through the property. As part of the York County Stormwater Consortium, Dover Township was paying approximately $202,000 per year between the years of 2019 and 2023. These funds were to be used on projects that would reduce sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus into Chesapeake Bay.
In 2019, Dover Township was the recipient of a $1,497,792 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Grant for the Fox Run Stream Restoration Project. As noted above this, grant would fund stream improvements necessary for credits as an MS4 Community, but in addition, the funds were used to grade the old Golf Course Property for the future layout of the park features detailed in the Eagle View Park Master Plan. In addition, the Township needed to replace and move the sewer interceptor that passed through the old Golf Course Property due to the footprint of the Fox Run Stream Restoration Project. Therefore, we pursued reimbursement of $605,000 from the York County Stormwater Consortium to move the sewer interceptor. This allowed Dover Township to gain three years of its contributions back from the Stormwater Consortium for use in our community. Work on the sewer interceptor occurred in late 2019, followed by the Fox Run Stream Restoration Project being constructed in 2020.
2022 brought the installation of the first park improvements, funded through a $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and a $200,000 Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Greenways, Trails, Recreation and Parks Program. Matching funds were required to fund the trails, outdoor classroom, pedestrian bridges, small parking lot, pavilion, and the other amenities. Those funds came from Recreation In Lieu of Fees paid by Developers building new homes within the Township. A Grand Opening of the first Phase of Park Improvements was held in September of 2023.
Township staff and consultants are currently working through permitting with the Department of Environmental Protection and York County Conservation District for the remaining phases north of the stream. Phase II, which should begin construction in 2025 will include installation of a portion of the new road into the park located off of Municipal Road, a larger parking facility, adult baseball field, dugouts, scoreboard, and additional amenities. A $250,000 Grant from the DCNR has been obtained for this next phase and matching funds will once again come from Recreation in Lieu of Fees paid by Developers.
Phase III, will be the Playground portion of the Project. An application to DCNR in the amount of $300,000 was submitted in April of 2024 to solicit funding for Phase III from their agency. Grants from the York County Marcellus Shale Funds and from the York Community Foundation Bob Hoffman Funds have also been secured in the amounts of $40,000 and $30,000 respectively. Lastly, due to Hurricane Ida damages in 2021, the Township did not replace the playground equipment in Community Park. FEMA provided funding of approximately $29,000 toward the placement of the new EVP Playground as an alternative to funding a playground in the Floodplain. Once, all grant funding has been secured, Dover Township will again use Rec Funds from Developers to meet its match requirements.
As a summary, thus far $2,878,792 in grant funding have been obtained from State, County and non-profits to fund Eagle View Park improvements. Approximately, $400,000 of Rec In Lieu of Funds have been used toward Phase I. General Fund dollars have not been used for any improvements other than maintenance related tasks and services.
Please click here for the most recent update to the EVP Master Plan.