A local youth sports leader is calling on Newtown Township Supervisors to take urgent action in support of the township’s young baseball players.

DJ Pascone, a Newtown resident and board member of the Council Rock Newtown Athletic Association (CRNAA), submitted a letter to township officials asking for assistance in installing running water to three baseball fields at Veterans Park. The request comes after more than a year of challenges involving broken water lines and missed opportunities to coordinate needed repairs.

“We desperately need your help,” wrote Pascone, stressing that water access is essential for both field maintenance and player safety, especially during the hot and dry summer months. “Without water to spray down the infield dirt, the hops become dangerous and unpredictable for the children.”

"I am proud to have secured $1.83M in state funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for our district," said Senator Santarsiero on Instagram.

• $686,000 to Doylestown Township to expand the New Britain Road multi-use trail
• $573,689 to Yardley Borough for North Main Street sidewalk improvements
• $450,000 to Plumstead Township for pedestrian improvements on Old Easton Road and Route 611
• $75,000 to Newtown Borough for Old Skunky streambank restoration
• $50,000 to Solebury Township to construct a public restroom at Aquetong Spring Park

Read more about these grants and projects: https://www.senatorstevesantarsiero.com/newsroom/ 

The American Rescue Plan has provided Pennsylvania counties, cities, boroughs and townships with $6.15 billion in federal funding, with half disbursed among nearly every state municipality this summer and the second half following next year. This funding offers an unprecedented opportunity for local government leaders to invest in community projects that improve Pennsylvanians’ lives.

Localities have wide latitude in how they disburse ARP funds. But does this flexibility apply to land conservation, waterway restoration, and recreation projects?

To find out, WeConservePA, a charitable conservation organization, sought analysis from attorneys experienced with local government and regulatory issues. As the legal analysis confirmed, many conservation-related projects — investments in parks and other public outdoor recreation spaces, natural infrastructure to prevent pollution and manage stormwater, and land and easement acquisitions in support of these efforts — are among the eligible expenses.

These allowable investments could improve Pennsylvania communities for years, decades, and — in some cases — even centuries. Rather than providing a temporary good, most conservation-related investments deliver enduring public benefits.

The Newtown Township Parks & Recreation Department submitted an application for a 2021 Healing the Planet Grant through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

The department applied for the full $25K outlining improvements to the trails and cleaning up the diseased trees at Clark Nature Center, etc.

Announcements of grant awards will be made in August.

A recently completed Citizens Survey reveals which parks are most popular with residents and whether recreation programs need improving.

Quality of Parks, Recreation programs, and Recreation centers/facilities were at the top of the list following Fire and Police Services! A majority of survey respondents (58.1%) say they have used township recreational programming, which was rated Good by 42% of respondents and Excellent by 48% of respondents.

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All Newtown Township park facilities will be closed as of 4 p.m. Friday, and will remain closed until further notice, officials announced. The closure is due to the coronavirus crisis, which has caused all non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania to shut their doors.

All park facilities, including restrooms, snack stands, basketball courts, and skate parks will be closed until further notice, the township announced.

"All playgrounds and ballfields should be avoided and used discretionarily in accordance with the recommendations of the Governor's Office, and the CDC," the township said.

Organized sports are prohibited from utilizing the fields until further notice.

Six Pennsylvania state parks in Bucks County are closed for 14 days effective Sunday, March 15, to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, stat officials announced.

The closed parks include Delaware Canal, Neshaminy, Nockamixon, Ralph Stover, Tyler, and Washington Crossing.

State parks in Chester, Montgomery and Delaware counties are also closed.

"These parks are being closed because they are in counties where there are the most numbers of presumptive and confirmed cases in the state. The closures further encourage people to stay home and to not travel to these areas," the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said.

"We advise people not to visit state parks that are closed; however, trails and roads that pass through parks and forestlands remain open, especially as some are transportation routes or are in neighborhoods that people access them from."