‘This would be the year to do it’: Peters Township seeks grant for aquatic center
Peters Township is seeking a $4 million grant toward construction of a new Rolling Hills Park Aquatic Center.
Township council Monday authorized chairman David Ball to make the grant application with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which is administering Land and Water Conservation Fund awards from the U.S. National Park Service.
Cost estimates for the aquatic center are between $10.2 million and more than $11 million, according to township manager Paul Lauer. As a result, the township would exceed the amount needed to match the grant even if the maximum is awarded.
“It requires an easement in perpetuity that, in fact, the land that is under use will be used as a park, and that will extend to outside the area of the aquatic center,” Lauer said about the grant. “I don’t see that as an onerous requirement, because I don’t see how you would ever reprogram that land for other use.”
A determination is expected by the fall as to whether a grant will be awarded.
“If it is determined that this project is not eligible for the federal funding, they will revert and consider funding a much smaller grant out of state of Pennsylvania funds,” Lauer said, with that amount limited to $500,000.
He said last year, the Land and Water Conservation Fund received a considerable increase in allocations.
“The share coming to the state of Pennsylvania was increased dramatically,” he told council. “And in speaking to representatives from DCNR, they actually think if there ever was an opportunity to get a significant grant for something like the aquatic center, this would be the year to do it.”
Any grant award would be retroactive.
“If we move ahead with the aquatic center, we will, in fact, have the aquatic center under contract while this grant still is being considered. That is not a normal process for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but it is a process they allow for,” Lauer said. “The representative from DCNR has not seen that in Pennsylvania, but it occurs elsewhere.”
Regarding the township’s chances of receiving money, he said the township is competing with other communities.
“Peters Township always is challenged with regard to acquiring grants, and that has a lot to do with the demographics of the community,” he said.
Plans call for council to vote April 12 on authorizing the receipt of bids for the aquatic center, which has an anticipated opening in May 2022.