Members of the Eldred Township parks and recreation committee submitted their proposal for the Stone Arch Bridge Village Square Development Project to the board of supervisors for review.

Joe Pucci, a member of the parks and recreation committee, provided the design to the board of supervisors for review during their regular meeting on Aug. 17. The committee has the project broken into five stages.

According to the plans, stage one involves installing a split rail fence along the riverside and the west side of the property. The property consists of the former Smale house and the lot around it. Boulders divide the lot from the parking area shared with the Kunkletown General Store.

“Do you have an idea of the budgetary amount for phase one,” asked Supervisors’ Chairman Gary Hoffman.

Diane Pucci said no, they had not developed a budget, because they hadn’t gotten the supervisors’ input yet.

Supervisor Blaine Silfies asked them if they intend to keep the boulders where they are or have them removed.

“For now, I think we should probably stay with the boulders until we get done with the rest of it,” she said.

Joseph Pucci added, “Maybe later on after people have gotten used to it being there, you could move to a lighter structure. I just think if there’s going to be people inside that perimeter, let’s not have an accident.”

Stage one also includes building a retaining wall that would also serve as a sitting wall. It would be arched like the stone arch bridge, and installing a stone barrier around the current garden in order to prevent erosion.

The last part of stage one is to add two parking spaces for people with disabilities and paths for them and others to access the picnic tables and sitting wall.

In stage two, the committee wants to plant shade trees in the picnic table and sitting wall area. Then they would like to add an information board in stage three in that section of the property.

In stage four, the committee would like to put in horticultural features, such as a butterfly garden or vegetation to attract hummingbirds. They would like to focus on native plants that love moisture since they would be in the flood plain.

The committee would also like to install a gazebo and walking paths to the gardens, some shade trees, and hedges or arborvitaes in front of the house to prevent entrance from Kunkletown Road.

Stage five is the final stage and involves paving the parking lot and adding memorial benches. They would also like to have a stone arch bridge seal or artwork placed near the bridge, and get signage at some point in the project.

Diane Pucci, also a member of the parks and recreation committee, told the supervisors that the drawing does not include lighting, but they do plan to add lighting to the project. They are not sure if they are going to use solar power or wired lighting.

Township solicitor Michael Gaul said he thinks the zoning commissioner should take a look at the plans, and Hoffman agreed.

Ann Velopolcek, the secretary for the township, said Jonathan Gula, the township’s Public Works supervisor, took the plan to the Monroe County Conservation District for review, and they signed off on it. The township just has to stay 50 feet from the creek bed with any improvements, Gula added. The blue line on the drawing shows the edge of the flood plain.

Hoffman told the committee that they need to look into the cost of materials and determine how much money they think they will need for the project. The supervisors will begin working this fall on next year’s budget.

“Clearly, our guys could do a lot of the work,” Hoffman said.

“Thank you very much,” said Supervisor Scott Clark to the committee for their work.

“Nice job,” Silfies added.