CRANBERRY TWP. — Cranberry Township officials unveiled the results of a year-long study examining the future of recreation and community gathering spaces during the first installment of the township’s new “Cranberry Conversations” series Tuesday evening.
Township Manager Dan Santoro said the event marked the first of several public discussions that will help guide an update to Cranberry Township’s long-range comprehensive plan.
“This is the first Cranberry Conversations in a series that we’re going to do across the summer,” Santoro said. “We’re going to focus on topics like recreation, EMS, transportation and land use. This is all in preparation for an update to our long-range comprehensive plan.”
Cranberry’s current comprehensive plan was last updated in 2016. Township officials said the public meetings are intended to help identify priorities and projects that will shape the community’s next long-range vision.
Assistant Township Manager and Chief Planning Officer Kyle Beidler led the presentation, outlining recent investments in parks, trails and recreation facilities while highlighting recommendations from the township’s 2024 Recreation Comprehensive Plan.
Among the projects highlighted were the ongoing development of Community Park North, upgrades to baseball fields and athletic courts at Community Park, expansion of the township’s trail and greenway network and implementation of a master plan for Powell Farm.
The centerpiece of the evening, however, was the introduction of a proposed Community Engagement Center that could serve as a hub for recreation, sports programming and community activities.
According to Beidler, the concept emerged from recommendations contained in the township’s Recreation Comprehensive Plan, which called for a feasibility study to determine whether a recreation center could meet future community needs.
To study the idea, the township assembled an advisory committee of residents and engaged professional consultants to evaluate potential sites, community demand and financial feasibility.
Bill Dimond, owner of Dunn & Dimond Insurance and a member of the advisory committee, said the process benefited from having residents with a wide range of interests represented on the committee.
“It’s pretty impressive. I really enjoyed the process,” Dimond said. “Cranberry did a great job getting a diverse cross section of the community represented on the committee. All with varying interests. It was cool to discuss them, see them go back to the drawing table and come back with alternatives based on suggestions.”
After reviewing several locations, the committee identified a 10-acre property adjacent to St. Ferdinand Church as the preferred site.
Cranberry Township has already agreed to purchase the property for approximately $4.1 million and is expected to close on the transaction in the coming weeks. Township officials said the acquisition makes sense regardless of whether the Community Engagement Center is ultimately constructed because the site provides valuable land for future municipal and recreation-related uses.
“We are in the process of closing on a piece of property right nearby here next to St. Ferdinand’s Parish Church,” Santoro said. “It made good sense to purchase that property for future municipal use, recreation-related, regardless of whether or not we end up building the facility there.”
Consultants analyzed recreation trends within a 60-minute radius of Cranberry Township and identified basketball, soccer, pickleball, baseball and volleyball as the area’s highest-demand recreational activities.
Early concepts considered facilities ranging from approximately 50,000 square feet to nearly 180,000 square feet. Committee members ultimately favored a mid-sized concept of approximately 100,000 square feet that would include four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts, approximately 20,000 square feet of indoor turf space, a walking track and fitness amenities.
Beidler said the committee’s goal was to create a facility that primarily serves Cranberry residents while remaining financially sustainable rather than relying heavily on large regional tournaments and outside users.
The proposed center would not be expected to fully pay for its construction costs but is projected to cover its operating expenses and generate revenue that could help offset future debt service associated with the project.
Following the presentation, residents were invited to review a series of design concepts and architectural renderings prepared by HRG and DesignStream Architectural Studio. The conceptual plans depicted a modern Community Engagement Center featuring basketball courts, indoor turf space, a walking track, fitness areas and flexible recreation space designed to serve residents of all ages.
Additional display boards highlighted ongoing recreation investments throughout the township, including Community Park North, improvements to athletic fields and courts, expanded trail connections and future plans for Powell Farm. Township officials encouraged attendees to speak directly with advisory committee members and complete a survey to provide feedback on the proposed facility and other recreation priorities.
Township officials emphasized that no final decisions have been made and that community feedback will play a significant role in determining whether the project moves forward.
Residents attending the meeting were encouraged to review concept boards, speak with committee members and complete a survey available through the township website.
If community support remains strong, officials said the advisory committee could make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors later this summer to begin preliminary engineering and environmental permitting.
Under the township’s tentative timeline, engineering and permitting could continue through 2027, with construction potentially beginning in 2028.
Santoro said the Community Engagement Center represents only one piece of a broader conversation about Cranberry Township’s future.
“We’re prepared to engage more fully with the community and take that feedback,” Santoro said. “This is really about understanding what residents want to see as Cranberry Township continues to grow.”
Additional Cranberry Conversations sessions focusing on EMS, transportation, land use and other community topics are scheduled throughout the remainder of the year.
