Green Hills Park Decision Tabled Again

The fate of Green Hills Park remains in limbo as Upper Macungie Township Supervisors did not make a decision on the park's status Thursday night.

Instead, supervisors postponed making a decision until members of the adjoining Kay Brook Green Hills Swim Club provided answers to some of the  questions about their intentions for the 2.7-acre park.

The Kay Brook Green Hills Association, the owners of the park, dissolved as of Jan. 1, and ownership of the Russett Road park is now in the legal process of being transferred from the association to the township.

However, the president of the Kay Brook Green Hills Swim Club told supervisors Thursday night that the organization, located next to the park, would agree to replace 40-year-old playground equipment as long as the township takes over maintenance.

The swim club, which is a separate entity from the park association, is asking the township to cut the grass and remove trash from the park area.

"We want to make sure the park continues and flourish," said Mike Sicinski, president of the swim club. "We'd like the township to take ownership of the park and maintain it and we will step up to maintain the grass and trees."

Supervisor Sam Ashmar told Sicinski that the swim club may negatively impact the park by encroaching on other parts of the property.

Sicinski said 350 family members pay $400 per year for a membership that runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

"That's $140,000 per year," Ashmar said. "Upper Macungie Township never had to maintain that park for recreational purposes for residents," he said. "You guys went outside the box. I feel you guys should buy new playground equipment and maintain the property. In good faith, the swim club should maintain the property. We're not talking about a lot of money."

The fly in the ointment is the current legal status of the park, which automatically transfers to the township when the legal dissolution of the Kay Brook Green Hills Association becomes official.

"I don't know when the swim club became a part of this," said Sally Scott, an association board member. "When the legal transfer happens to the township that should be it. People are passionate about this park. Some of the older residents have planted trees there. They've paid their dues."

The park has a playground, a baseball field and a tennis court that has been paved over.

Parking has been an issue over the years at the swim club. At peak times, parking has taken place at the park.

Scott said she's seen plans from the swim club showing that they'd take over two-thirds of the park.

"We're not land-grabbers," Sicinski said. "We're not moving any of the fences [from the swim club]. We want to do what's best for the community."

Ashmar said he felt it would be advantageous to hold a separate public meeting and get a lot more feedback from the community. He also asked Sicinski for a list of township residents and non-township residents of the swim club.

Sicinski said he would go back to the swim club's board concerning liability, insurance and obligations to maintain the park.