A park for hunting, fishing and bird-watching may be in the cards for a treated waste dump site in the Jackson Township area.

Jackson Township supervisors have applied for a "Growing Greener" grant through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to purchase more than 900 acres of pastureland and woods which has been for sale for the past two years by Roy J. Neer of Slippery Rock Township.

The property is also a bone of contention for many neighbors and township residents because of the dumping of treated waste on the property by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority.

But township Supervisor Brian Patterson made it clear that his interest in preserving open game lands began well before the dumping started in May.

"I was spurred by the debate that began with the road sign near (Interstate) 79 back in December," Patterson said, referring to property near an interstate interchange in Jackson Township. "The owner wanted his property rezoned industrial (for the sign) and we wanted to find money to buy that plot from those people."

Instead, the township agreed to allow the sign as long as the owners turned the 25-acre property surrounding the sign into a conservation district that can never be developed, Patterson explained, noting that a stream runs nearby and there were concerns of it being polluted by any industrial development.

In April, Patterson attended a conference to learn more about "Growing Greener" grants to create passive recreation parks, which are not to be developed. "It would be used for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, horse-back riding and non-motorized bikes," he said.

"For two years, the asking price (for the Neer property) has been $1.6 million," said Patterson, adding that the township would offer the recently appraised price of $1 million for the property.

He added that the only factor the dumping of treated waste on the property had on the township's decision was that there might be more community support now if taxes have to be raised to help pay for the land acquisition. The DCNR grant is a 50-50 matching grant, and the township would have to come up with about $500,000.

"I've talked with the state game commission and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, plus we already have private donations of about $3,000. Everyone sounds interested, but everyone's budget is real tight," he said. He has also explored the option of a 10- or 15-year municipal loan, and eventually turning over the property to the game commission.

"We feel that it is essential to the area to preserve the open space," Patterson said, noting that the supervisors had been concerned with the possibility of the property being residentially developed since the property went up for sale. "Its zoned agriculture/residential. Someone could build 500 houses there if they wanted to."

He explained that 500 acres nearby was already a state game land, with a natural bog also nearby.

"Where else can you find 1,000 acres in Mercer County with seven lakes and 100 acres of forest. The game commission said it's an excellent bird-nesting habitat, which is the fastest disappearing habitat for wild birds. They also said bird watching is the fastest growing pastime in Pennsylvania."

You can email Sherris Moreira-Byers at sbyers@sharonherald.com