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Decision to drill in parks is under fire
The mayor says there is no need to worry about the drilling process.
GIRARD — City council gave its blessing for gas well drilling in Tod and Liberty parks, but some councilmen say the devastation is more than they bargained for.
Now, with complaints about the view in Liberty Park and dozens of cut trees coming in from residents, these council members are wondering if the drilling should be stopped.
City officials two years ago passed legislation to allow drilling for natural gas on four city-owned locations: Liberty Park, Tod Park, the sewage treatment facility and the Girard Lakes.
Liberty Park was the first location to see any actually drilling, starting about a week ago, taking place near the PONY league baseball field off Liberty Street. Part of left field has been taken out by the drilling, and a field to the rear of the baseball field has been removed. Trees and other brush have been removed from a hillside near the baseball field.
The machinery used in the drilling process is clearly visible near the fields.
Several residents brought their concerns about drilling and damage to the attention of council at a meeting earlier this week.
City resident Tony Kren told council he played in the parks as a child and is disheartened by the shrinking usable space available to kids playing in those areas today. He urged council to reconsider allowing drilling to even begin in Tod Park, because it has changed the landscape in Liberty Park.
Council President Reynald Paolone said he is also concerned about the effects drilling will have on areas used by young people for recreation at Liberty Park. He said the devastation to the park is deep.
“Usually people exaggerate when they talk about things like this, but I can’t describe to you how bad this is. It’s bad,” Paolone told members of council.
Paolone said he is concerned that the park will not be cleaned up and ready to be used by kids who practice there for various sporting events.
Mayor James Melfi said residents have nothing to worry about when it comes to play and practice areas for young people.
According to Melfi, the timing of the drilling in Liberty Park is ideal because school is out and the field will not be used for any practices until July. He said the area will be cleaned and completely restored long before that time.
Melfi said the final phase of any drilling project is restoration and that, he said, makes the entire drill site whole.
City resident Sam Pagano questioned council why drilling was allowed in the park in the first place.
“I can’t believe anyone would allow a gas well in Tod Park or Liberty Park. There is no way we should be allowing wells in our parks,” he said.
The city, however, had a significant financial reason for allowing the drilling to take place. According to Melfi, the financial gains from the gas wells are included in the city’s economic recovery plan needed to emerge from fiscal emergency. The city has been in fiscal emergency since 2001.
The city was paid $7,000 at the start of the drilling last week, and will be paid 12.5 percent in royalties from the well. The city will also now receive free gas for a Boy Scout building near Liberty Park and one additional city building once the well is drilled near the sewage treatment plant.
The mayor estimates that the city is looking at a profit of about $35,000 annually that will go toward maintaining the parks.
“Tod Park is a very sensitive area and we recognize that,” said Melfi. “This is nothing new to parks in the valley. Mill Creek Park gets a significant income from its wells.”
As far as trees being removed from the park, Melfi said only a few were removed and most of those were already dead from erosion. He said any area disturbed will be covered in grass in the next few weeks.
Councilman Frank Migliozzi said council needs to assess the damage to Liberty Park before any more drilling takes place on city property. He said council could consider halting the legislation to allow the drilling until it gets some answers.
jgoodwin@vindy.com