WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - E-Library

I. .. . . . -I-This review of the borough’s parks shows that while it is well supplied with miniparks, neighborhoodparks and a school-park, a community park may be needed. Two of the miniparks, Krupp Memorialand Bridgeview are in unique locations and provide for passive recreation such as gazebos and paths.Holland Drive minipark has no facilities. Of the six neighborhood parks only two parks havesubstantial facilities for active recreation, Swartley-Winkelman and Chestnut Street. Those parks haveballfields. Oxbow, Lenape Lane and Blue Jay have trails and benches but no ballfields.The majority of facilities and activities in the borough parks provide for passive recreationopportunities for youth and adults. There may be a need to provide more active recreation facilities forchildren and youth. However not all recreation should be oriented toward the younger citizens of theborough. Passive recreational opportunities for all ages can be expanded by providing natural areasand trails along the Neshaminy Creek. The elderly can be accommodated by facilities such asshuffleboard courts, chess tables, and horseshoe pits. Park facilities and needs for all populationgroups should be surveyed by the borough park and recreation committee.The borough’s population is projected to grow slightly in the future, but its age structure will change.The number of persons over 40 years of age will increase. The aging of the population will lead to achange in recreation needs. Although the borough may have enough parkland in the future, some ofthe facilities within the existing parks are oriented to a younger population and therefore may beinadequate for a population which is getting older. Even if the amount of parkland is sufficient,recreational needs of older residents cannot be met by facilities oriented towards more active recreation.Passive and active recreation facilities that serve the needs of older residents will be required.The needs of the present and future population can be met with existing parks to a great extent, butnew parkland and funding may be needed. Some of the new parks andor funding may be obtainedfrom the Bucks County Open Space Program.Utility Services and FacilitiesSolid Waste ManagementChalfont Borough is facing solid waste management challenges that are similar to those of manycommunities across the United States. Population growth, a rise in consumerism, and the popularity ofpackaging has lead to more toxic and less biodegradable material making its way to local landfills. Theneed to protect our environment and human health has resulted in costly and time consuming efforts tocollect, recycle, and dispose of these waste products.Municipalities are generally responsible for ensuring proper and adequate storage, collection, andtransportation of municipal waste and for implementing recycling programs. The PennsylvaniaMunicipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (Act 101) empowers countiesand municipalities to adopt resolutions, ordinances, regulations, and standards to carry out the requiredresponsibilities..~~46 Chalfont Borough Comprehensive Plan Update Draft