Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Lifelong resident says deed from local coal baron states area just for recreation.
Community activist Joan Uricheck stands near the area of Freeland Park where the borough is creating parking.
Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader
FREELAND – Joan Uricheck was furious when she saw fencing missing and trees cut down from the shady, tranquil respite just down the street from her lifelong home of 68 years.
A feisty former president of several area unions who has a history of fighting for what she believes in, Uricheck is now waging a battle to prevent what some see as a benefit to the community: Borough council wants to pave over a portion of Freeland Park for a parking area that would accommodate 13 vehicles on a 3,875-square-foot plot along Sabol Street between Front and Main streets.
But Uricheck says that the late coal baron Eckley B. Coxe clearly stipulated in the deed for the property that it was to be used for nothing other than recreation when his coal company donated the land to then-Foster Township in 1892.
“This park is a part of history. I believe in preserving history,” Uricheck said during a walk through the park last week.
“A lot of people don’t know the history of this park,” she said, pointing to a pavilion built the same year the Cross Creek Coal Co. transferred the land to Foster Township for $1 before Freeland became a borough.
“This is for generations to come, to know what this area is all about,” Uricheck said.
According to Borough Manager Lynn Falatko, council discussed creating a parking area at the park at the last two council meetings. She said a description of the project was included in the engineer’s report, and council OK’d the project by voting to approve the report.
Falatko said there was no line-item vote on the project, which is “currently at a standstill until the next council meeting, basically due to the protest.”
Uricheck said when she heard that fencing had been removed and trees were being cut, she headed to the park, confirmed that to be true and called the borough manager to have the work stopped, citing concerns with the deed and a lack of council approval.
Uricheck said she attended the last two council meetings and contends that there was no discussion about removing trees or starting the project. She said borough engineer David Kavitski merely reported that he assessed an area near the Freeland YMCA, which is across Sabol Street from the park, for parking.
A member of the borough Zoning Board, Uricheck said she’s familiar enough with governmental procedure to know that approval of an engineer’s report is not sufficient to begin a construction project.
“It was a sneaky way of doing things. Everything was hush-hush,” Uricheck said, asserting that a motion should have been made by council Parks and Recreation Chairman John Budda, who, she pointed out, is also a YMCA board member.
A copy of the July engineer’s report states: “Parking lot along YMCA in Park – As discussed with Mr. Budda, a parking lot at the public park near the YMCA alley would require the following: relocation of the fence; removal of some trees; fill and grading; stone sub base and paving; lines painted for 12 regular parking spaces and one handicap van accessible space; and concrete tire stops. Should you wish to pursue this project, please advise.”
The August engineer’s report states: “Parking lot along YMCA in Park – Discussed with Mr. Budda, (YMCA director) Joe Flanagan, and Bob and John the location of a 25’ x 155’ parking lot at the public park near the YMCA alley.”
Asked how the idea for the project came about, Falatko said she believes YMCA officials approached Budda with the idea.
Budda did not return several messages left at his home.
Borough Streets Department Foreman Bob Babenko disputed Uricheck’s contention that the project was not discussed at council meetings. He said no one from the public spoke against the project at the meetings, and that council gave him a verbal go-ahead on the project at the last meeting on Aug. 3. So, he took down the fencing and began tree removal proceedings, he said.
Babenko said that contrary to rumors that the parking area would be designated for YMCA use, it actually would be public parking for anyone to use. And it would provide convenient parking for Front Street residents during snow bans.
He said the off-street parking would also improve safety for parents dropping off children at the YMCA because truck traffic increased on Centre, Front and Birkbeck streets after the borough banned truck traffic on smaller streets on hills.
Babenko said he’s also chairman of the borough Shade Tree Commission, and several oak trees in the park, including some in the area designated for parking, “are rotted and need to come down.” He said a man whom he declined to name offered to volunteer his time for the tree removal.
The entire project will cost the borough practically nothing, Babenko said, as all labor is being donated by himself, the borough engineer and others. A possible deal for paving materials is also being sought.
Uricheck contends there is adequate parking around the park, and officials at the Garland oven factory behind the park allow public parking in the factory lot for special events.
She noted the park was once quadruple its current size, extending all the way to South Street until the Coxe estate reluctantly allowed Garland – then Nautilus – to build a factory there because people in the area needed jobs and begged for the land.
Uricheck said council should have researched the deed to the property before proceeding.
Falatko said borough solicitor Donald Karpowich is researching the matter. Uricheck said she has her own lawyer looking into it.
“I never thought I’d see the day I’d be fighting to keep that park,” Uricheck said.
WHAT’S NEXT
Borough Council is expected to discuss the parking lot proposed for Freeland Park at a work session at 7 p.m. Thursday and a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. Both meetings will be at the Freeland Ambulance Association building, 417 Johnson St., Freeland.