A proposed recreation center in Cranberry Township that has been discussed at public meetings during the last month is getting “mostly positive” reviews.
That was the word from Bonnie Summers, chair of the township’s economic development committee, at the committee’s monthly meeting Tuesday.
Cranberry School Board member Kyle Melat, who is a driving force in the effort to build the recreation center, spoke to the economic committee last month and said the facility would provide the Cranberry area with a badly needed second gym.
Melat said his hope is that if the recreation center were to be built, it would help grow the school district by attracting more students to the district and more people into the community.
Economic committee member Betsy Kellner said at Tuesday’s meeting “this isn’t just a Cranberry thing. It is more than an athletic complex. It is a health center.”
Melat said last month the proposed center would be similar to a center in Shenango Area School District that is about 39,000 square feet and opened in 2021.
It was built at a cost of about $4.5 million including its contents.
The Shenango center is managed by the school district and its athletic director, although Melat said that wouldn’t necessarily have to be the case in Cranberry.
Summers said Tuesday she has talked with Sam Breene, chairman of the Venango County commissioners, and Summers said Breene told her the county wants to be involved with the project.
Heil said he didn’t believe that company was a “good fit” with the township.
“If they are interested in coming here I think we should listen,” said committee member Lisa Groner.
Township supervisor Matt McSparren provided an update on broadband development.
He said the township may not need to erect a tower for the project, and he added there has been no word on the progress of an ARC grant application.
Groner said plans are progressing for the Cranberry Expo and Cranberry Festival.
“We welcome any input,” she said.
The festival is held on the third weekend in September.
McSparren also provided an agriculture update. He said the hay crop hasn’t been good and corn yields are down.
The committee’s next meeting is Aug. 15.
