Neighborhood Tot Lot Not Favored in Forks

It's just a tot lot.

But a tot lot proposed for Vista Estates stirred up quite a bit of debate at the recent Forks Township Board of Supervisors work session.

"I think it's a bad idea," Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss said. "I don't think we should get involved with it."

Zoning Officer Tim Weis had pitched the proposal to supervisors that the Vista Estates Homeowners Association would donate a roughly 1-acre parcel alongside Richmond Road for a "tot lot."

It didn't seem to stir a lot of interest.

"We were looking at this five years ago," Supervisor Bob Egolf said.

Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Sulzbach expressed concern over safety.

She said the tot lot would be too close to busy Richmond Road unless it were fenced in and that power lines nearby were also a potential hazard.

"I'm not recommending it," she said.

Chuss also said the power lines were a big concern for him. He added that the parcel is not part of the township's five-year Comprehensive Plan for Parks and Recreation.

Chuss was also concerned about maintenance costs, although Public Works Director Mark Roberts said the tot lot shouldn't take much to maintain.

"To me, this is not money well spent," Vice Chairman John O'Neil said. "We've got bigger issues than putting up a tot lot."

"Everyone wants money," Egolf said.

The item almost didn't make the cut to be placed on a meeting agenda.

"It's a political situation over there," Chuss said. "I don't think we should get involved."

Supervisor David Billings posted on his Facebook page that supervisors approved a motion to create a tot lot for Vista Estates residents on April 15, 2010.

"The purpose of the tot lot is provide a nice playground for mothers to take their kids to play without driving to Community Park or Braden Airport," Billings posted. "We need to support initiatives that encourage kids to play on a playground in their own neighborhood."

Chuss told Weis to ask representatives of the association to attend a future meeting and give a formal proposal.

"It should be discussed," Supervisor Dan Martyak said.

"There's no urgency here," Egolf stated.