About Us
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About UsThe Abington Area Community Park is a work-in-progress on 100 acres of former farm land containing a small lake located on PA Route 307, or Winola Road, in South Abington Township. The park is bordered by the Clarks Summit State Hospital and the Scranton Country Club, and contains the Abington Senior Center on its property.
The recreation area is home to the Abington Youth Soccer League, Abington Soccer Travel League, Abington Community Garden, Abington Area Girls' Softball League, Abington Dog Park and other youth and adult recreation groups and activities.
The lake is open for public fishing, and there are two handicapped accessible fishing pier. Picnic tables, a pavilion and walking trails surround the lake as well.
History
The Abington Area Community Park is managed by the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board (AAJRB). The AAJRB was created in 1972 when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania deeded surplus land to the Boroughs of Clarks Green and Clarks Summit, and the townships of Abington, Glenburn, and South Abington.
Those municipalities created the AAJRB as a Joint Advisory Board, according to PA State Law for Intergovernmental Cooperation, and charged the AAJRB with developing and managing recreation for the Abington region. Abington Township, now Waverly, was inactive during most of this time, but reclaimed it fulltime role for 2012, and took a partial role for 2011. See the ordinances and agreements that created the AAJRB here.
Mission Statement |
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Abington Heights Abington Heights |
Eduardo Antonetti Mike Flemming |
AHSD Administration Board of Education |
| Clark's Green | Marnie Palmer | Councilwoman |
| Clark's Green | Bill Risse | Appointed, Chair, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Clark's Green | Diane Vietz | Appointed |
| Clark's Summit | open | Appointed |
| Clark's Summit | Mike Hargrove | Appointed |
| Clark's Summit | Greg Pascale | Appointed, Solicitor |
| Glenburn | open | Supervisor |
| Glenburn | Tim Mc Coy | Appointed |
| Glenburn | Bill Wicks | Supervisor |
| South Abington | Carolyn Crowley | Appointed, Treasurer |
| South Abington | Jim Davis | Appointed |
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South Abington
Waverly
Waverly
Waverly
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Mark Dougherty
Tim Sheffler
Wendy Wilson
David Hollendar
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Supervisor
Appointed
Appointed
Appointed
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Partnerships and Community Service
Funding
Abington Youth Soccer League contributed funds for the construction of Jack Stroney Soccer Field and has volunteered additional resources and numerous hours in the maintenance and enhancement of the Park from 1987 to present.
Abington Area Girls' Softball League contributed funds for the electric Scoreboard on Softball Field A and has volunteered numerous hours in the maintenance and enhancement of the Park from 1987 to present.
Women&'s Club of the Abingtons has contributed funds for the fencing around the Jack Stroney Soccer Field in 2000.
PA Representative Frank Serafini's office secured funds for the improvement for the two softball fields in 1991.
PA Senator Bob Mellow's office secured funds for the site drainage needs at the International Soccer Field in 1993
Boy Scouts of America Troop 160 contributed volunteer service to sand and apply water repellent material on the 400 foot long parking barrier at the Jack Stroney Soccer Field in 2004. Eagle Scout Candidates have executed individual projects in the park.
Rotary of the Abingtons contributed volunteer services to the tree planting project in 2004.
Friends of Abington Heights Wrestling contributed volunteer services for the construction of trash receptacles in 2004.
Commercial Lawn Care contributed volunteer services to numerous projects in 2004.
Pat Snyder Tree Service contributed volunteer services to the tree maintenance project in 2004.
Fairview State Correctional Institute supplied Community Service Labor to help clear lake shoreline for fishing access in 2004.
Corey Durso Tree Service contributed volunteer service to tree trimming efforts in 2006.
Elk Mountain Ski Resort contributed volunteer services & evergreen trees to the forestry project in 2004.
State Senator Robert Mellow secured State funding for Fishing Pier and Handicapped Access Project in 2006.
State Rep. Jim Wanzsac secured State Funding for Playground Equipment in 2007 and 2008.
Walmart, thru the efforts of Government Relations Manager Jim Davis, donated $5,000 to underwrite park projects in 2007.
More than a dozen individuals and companies came together in early 2008 to match funding secured by State Rep. Wanzsac and pledged by the Lackawanna County Cultural Affairs Office to kick-off the Community Garden Project.
The Scranton Area Foundation and Lackawanna County Government each provided $5,000 grants in 2008 to help start a summer camp project and support the Community Garden project.
Lackawanna County Commissioners Corey O'Brien, Mike Washo and AJ Munchak announced that the County will build a $250,000 Boundless Playground at the Park in 2009. That announcement followed a PA Gaming Commission announcement that the AAJRB has secured a $200,000 grant to upgrade one of the soccer fields and improve playground facilities in the park.
Funding
Five municipalities own and finance the development and maintenance of the Abington Area Community Park. Funding is based upon a per-resident formula, based upon The 2010 US Census population as follows:
- Borough of Clark's Green (1,476)
- Borough of Clark's Summit (5,116)
- Township of Glenburn (1,246)
- Township of South Abington (9,073)
- Waverly Township (1,743)
The per-resident municipal contribution is less than $3 per resident per year serving 18, 654 of member municipalities, and open to the general public.
Development Timeline
1972: Commonwealth Deeds Land To Municipalities
1972: 5 Municipalities form the AAJRB as a Joint Advisory Board - a special purpose intergovernmental body
1980s: The Park Lake is first stocked For Fishing
1987: Developed Lower Field For Soccer And Softball
1992: Developed International Soccer Field
1994: Leased Land To Clarks Summit Which Built And Maintains The Abington Senior Center
1996: Proposed Civic Center (unfunded)
2000: Developed Second Soccer (Jack Stroney) Field
2001: Completed Irrigation System With Water Wheel.
2002: Constructed 30-foot By 50-foot Storage Garage
2004: Community Tree Planting Project, phase 1
1980s: The Park Lake is first stocked For Fishing
1987: Developed Lower Field For Soccer And Softball
1992: Developed International Soccer Field
1994: Leased Land To Clarks Summit Which Built And Maintains The Abington Senior Center
1996: Proposed Civic Center (unfunded)
2000: Developed Second Soccer (Jack Stroney) Field
2001: Completed Irrigation System With Water Wheel.
2002: Constructed 30-foot By 50-foot Storage Garage
2004: Community Tree Planting Project, phase 1
2006: Community Tree Planting Project, phase 2
2006: Demonstration Fishing Pier Installed
2007: Community Tree Planting Project, phase 3
2007: Hiking/Nature Trail Constructed with broad community support
2007: Additional Fishing Pier and Handicapped Parking & Pathway Constructed
2008: Community Garden Project Announced
2008: Supervised Summer Activity Camp for Middle School aged children launched
2009: Funding for Boundless Playground, Soccer Field upgrades.
2009: Private Connecticut foundation provides $10,000 in funding for handicapped access enhancements
2010: State of PA Provides funding to match Abington Youth Soccer Funds to Light Soccer Field
2010: Lakeside pavilion and handicapped bathroom facility added via state and county grants
2010: Junior Comets Football Club commits funding to develop football and cheerleading practice complex
2011: State provides funding to expand fishing piers and increase trout stocking of Eston Wilson Lake
2011: Governor Rendell and Governor Corbett approve $900,000 of RCAP funds for key developments at the Park
2011: 'The Tree" carving represents Art in Nature, and is the trailhead marker for upcoming Walk the Lake Trail
2011: Rain Garden installed by Dog Park to manage stormwater overflow
2011: A lighting bid proposal was awarded with Clarks Green Borough as the representing agent for AAJRB
2011: Significant growth of volunteerism in all park domains