Residents provide feedback for Mifflinburg parks and recreation

Feb. 22—MIFFLINBURG — Residents of Mifflinburg Borough and Mifflinburg Area School District provided feedback about the future of the borough park system on Wednesday night.

Herbert Rowland & Grubic, Inc., (HRG) of Lewisburg, and Counsilman-Hunsaker, of St. Louis, will use the feedback to develop a master plan for the Community Park, community pool and the Harry Haney Park. The open house was held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Community Room, 250 E. Chestnut St., Mifflinburg.

Lori Bailey calls herself a "swim team grandma." Her children and numerous grandchildren have all been on swim teams, she said.

"If we lose the pool, they probably lose the team," said Bailey. "It's also important for children who don't have private access (to pools)."

Mark and Sue Shumaker said "safety and security" at the parks are priorities for them. They have a young granddaughter who couldn't play on equipment due to older teenagers.

"You have rules for a park, and how is that enforced?" said Mark Shumaker.

Attendees had several engagement stations to provide feedback. They could use post-it notes to place suggestions on an "I have a wish ..." board or descriptions on the current state of recreation and the vision for the future.

They were able to review the list of park amenities and features and then place poker chips in corresponding jars for amenities they felt were the most important to include or enhance in the borough's parks.

"We have young kids, and I work in the school district," said Taylor Montesinos, who came to the event with her husband Lou and their children, Ella, 5, and Cole, 3. "It's important not only for our kids but the school kids to have a place to gather and have facilities that are competitive to the surrounding area."

The potential amenities and features included courts for pickleball, tennis and basketball; fields for baseball or softball; walking or jogging trails; nature play; inclusive play; accessible amenities; space for bocce, horseshoes and other yard games; outdoor exercise equipment; volleyball court; and opportunities for suggestions.

There were also three maps of both parks and the pool where residents could place green dots for good aspects of the current park system and red dots for bad aspects of the current park system.

"We will summarize the results for the steering committee and the public," said Tracy Strickland, the project manager with HRG. "We will prepare a public report with potential park designs."

The public will have an opportunity to review those plans at a future meeting within the next two to three months, said Strickland.

George Deines, the studio director for Counsilman-Hunsaker, said the feasibility study for the pool will look at the existing conditions and its lifespan. It will also consider the functionality and whether it meets the needs of the community.

The study will identify short-term options for repairs and renovations and long-term options for replacement or major overhauls.

Counsilman-Hunsaker's feedback will be plugged into HRG's Master Plan.

At previous public meetings, the borough council members approved the agreements with HRG Engineering for $72,900 and Counsilman-Hunsaker for $40,430. The agreements are paid for with grant funding.

Residents are also asked to fill out a survey at bit.ly/MIFFPMP.