Citizens passed a General Obligation Bond in 2006 that included seven new projects and funds to purchase additional park land. Due to the current economic environment, those projects have been placed on hold with the exception of the Hellwig Park field improvements. This project is moving forward primarily because it is funded heavily from existing proffer development funds and the bond for this project was sold prior to future bonds being frozen by the County Executive. Operating support will be funded from the transfer of the operating funds that currently support the Independent Hill sports fields. The Independent Hill fields are being replaced by the new Hellwig Park fields. This project will provide for three 60-foot diamond sports fields and one 90-foot diamond field and additional parking. Eventually, two smaller universal diamond sports fields will be added through a public-private partnership and permanent restrooms will be built at the site. A pdf drawing of the project is included below.
Project PDF Drawing
The Park Authority is recommending the purchase of a 10-acre parcel of land that would connect these new sports fields with a new exit to Aden Road. This second exit would provide additional safety to families entering or exiting the park, reduce traffic on Route 619 (currently the only entrance/exit to this regional park), and provide county police with faster response time into the back of the park should their services be needed.
This new 10-acre parcel would provide an additional 2.4 acres of protected conservation area (Labeled C), .5 acres of additional wetland (B) increasing current wetland park acreage at Hellwig Park (D), 3.0 acres of undisturbed woodland area , and 1.5 acres of additional buffer to adjacent homes (A). Only 2.6 acres would be developed for the 2-lane entrance road construction.
A PDF of this proposed entrance is located here A PDF of the proposed Hellwig Access Road site distance to existing and planned homes
Click on the thumbnail pictures below for a larger view, click on picture again to reduce back to thumbnail.