Construction will soon begin to rebuild Creek Junction Park in Forkston, seen here after it was destroyed by September 2011 flooding. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

Wyoming County Press Examiner

Creek Junction Park in Mehoopany Township is set to have a rebirth as construction will soon begin to rebuild the park that was destroyed by floodwaters in September of 2011.

Creek Junction Recreation Board president Jason Burke said that around $400,000 was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace materials destroyed by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

However, there is a catch. According to Burke, the money from FEMA must be used by September.

That’s why Burke is reaching out to volunteers to help rebuild the park as soon as weather will allow.

Burke noted that none of the money awarded can be used for construction costs and that the recreation board will have to rely on volunteer labor to get the park rebuilt.

“After the flood, Ron Furman, Frank Miner and myself sat down and figured out the cost of everything that was destroyed,” Burke said. “And we were reimbursed for exactly that.”

Burke said the park, which used to have three Little League baseball fields, will contain only two with the new layout.

After the flooding, FWM Little League moved to Goodwin Field along Route 87, and two fields will stay there in the coming years.

“We wanted to move the buildings as far away from the creek as we possibly could,” Burke said. “And reconfigure the fields so that they weren’t so close to the road.”

The board also plans to rebuild the BBQ pit, pavilion, basketball court, fencing and more.

However, if the board wants to add new features to the park, it will have to come out of their own pockets.

Burke is hoping that volunteer workers from Forkston, Windham and Mehoopany Townships will come out in force to get the project done.

“It’s going to take a lot of work to get it done in the time we have,” Burke said. “So hopefully we can get a lot of volunteers to help.”

Burke said those interested in volunteering should contact their respective township.

He is looking forward to seeing the community get to use to park once again when it is rebuilt.

“It’s all positive there. There are family reunions, kids playing basketball,” Burke said. “It’s a nice relaxing place that doesn’t cost people anything.”