Coopersburg Council Scraps Meadow Park Plans

On a vote of 4 to 2, withdrew plans Wednesday for a walking trail in Meadow Park -- a vote that will require the borough to pay back $23,500 of grant money already spent on the project. 

The  At a June 19 council meeting, residents voiced strong opinions about adding a walking trail to an area they say floods often. 

"What will happen when the area floods, the hot summers, and cold winters that will inevitably damage the [area]," 

Neighbors of the Meadow Park area met with council at a July 9 workshop. It was this workshop that led Councilman Dennis Balascak to cast doubt on the walking trail project. 

"I gave a lot of thought to [the flooding argument]," said Balascak, who also sits on the infrastructure committee during council workshops. "Speaking for myself, the trail through Meadow Park should be abandoned."

The decision to abandon the project doesn't come without its own set of issues, borough engineer William Erdman pointed out. He said the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) awarded the grant and will need to be paid back if the project doesn't move forward.

"The project has already spent about half the grant money [$23,500 of the $47,000 grant]," said Erdman. "I don’t know how the DCNR would view the borough going forward. It could affect us five or 20 years from now when we try to get a park grant. It could be a black mark against the borough."

In the end, Balascak made the motion to abandon the project. Supported by fellow infrastructure committee member Harvey Greenland (who cited potential maintenance and upkeep costs), as well as , the motion carried. Council members Linda Minarik and Richard Nalichowski voted against the measure. 

"I'm very happy with the outcome," said Loew. "It looks like some council members listened."