If the Cook Tract plan is approved by Whitpain’s supervisors, construction hours will be longer than anticipated, and some new ideas from residents may be incorporated into the final plan. 

The project will be presented to the supervisors Tuesday, July 19, before a public hearing during the meeting. The supervisors may vote on the project that night.

Township manager Roman Pronczak said Walsh Construction would be hauling clean fill and bulldozing it from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and possibly some Saturdays to build six soccer fields, two lacrosse fields and a one-mile, paved walking trail around the perimeter of the fields.  

Pronczak originally anticipated hours of construction to be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  He said township code allows construction from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Walsh would haul 450,000 cubic yards of soil, deemed "clean" by a private lab, from the turnpike widening project onto the adjacent Cook Tract.

Project designer David S. Cavanaugh of LandConcepts said it will take one year to build the six soccer and two lacrosse fields.

Township staff held an informational meeting on the Cook Tract project Monday to explain updates to the plan. Pronczak said changes were made after hearing residents' concerns during board of supervisors' and one-on-one meetings.

During the update meeting, staff explained a paved, one-mile walking path would wind around the perimeter of the fields.

Since the update meeting, a second, unpaved walking path is being considered by township staff. Pronczak said, in wanting to be “environmental sensitive,” a walking trail through woodland areas of the 99-acres may be created.

Wood chips, rather than asphalt, would be used to create the trail so maintenance would not be required, Pronczak said. The location of the trail has not been determined, he said.

The woodland trail is being considered in response to residents’ concerns that the Cook Tract should benefit the whole community, and not be developed for organized sports only.

Township Parks and Recreation Superintendent Michael Richino said, “We’re trying to make it a community park that’s good for all.”

Richino said an enclosed dog park is also being considered for the field closest to Route 202 (see diagram), based on residents’ requests. At the Cook Tract update meeting, one resident expressed displeasure that dogs are not allowed at developed parks in Whitpain.

Richino said this field, set off from the other fields, was considered a contingency field. He said it is being graded and seeded, but would not be irrigated. It was being saved for future use if soccer or lacrosse programs grew, Richino said. 

The proposed dog park “would be away from the other fields, ball players and noise,” said Richino.”

Richino said the township is looking at creating a parking lot with millings, similar to the sports park lot for the dog park.

Walsh Construction will be asked to fund the dog park, which would include fencing, Richino said. 

“If Walsh does not agree, the field would be a targeted area for [dog park] development and maintenance later, if the township has the funds,” he said.

The board of supervisors will hold a public hearing on the Cook Tract project July 19, at 8 p.m. at Tiferet Bet Israel, 1920 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell. The supervisors may vote on the Cook Tract project after the hearing.