Ross commissioners announce new plans for Short Line Hollow as resident urges spring reopening

Amid ongoing disputes about the closed park, Ross Commissioner Dan DeMarco announced Feb. 18 that the township would engage a consultant and release a survey for community members about reopening Short Line Hollow park.

The park, which consists of miles of hiking trails in a steep valley, was created in 2017 after years of work from volunteers and then-Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer. Short Line Hollow was closed in 2019, however, after thousands of tons of dirt from a landslide on Reis Run Road were deposited at its entrance.

Since then, the township and park-goers have worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to determine Short Line Hollow’s future.

Recently, Matt Kruth of Ross, a park advocate and member of the informal Friends of Short Line Hollow group, has sparred with DeMarco over what he called “stall tactics” and “unnecessary delays” from the township during the reopening process.

In a statement during the meeting of Ross commissioners Feb. 18, DeMarco said the town will establish a “direct line of communication” between Ross and the DEP because “outside forces” have “caused problems.”

The DEP authorized Ross’ “trail relocation plan and trail development work” to begin all the way back in September, according to Lauren Camarda, regional communications manager for the DEP. And Jason Paulovich, Ross’ engineer, said he had “gotten through the technical aspects” of the town’s stream restoration plan to remove an unauthorized culvert in the park as part of another DEP demand.

DeMarco, commission president, said the township already has spent $134,805 on the park, but his first priority is the “vital issue” of Ross’ fire safety. Most of that money, however, went into remediation measures to comply with DEP standards and demands after the landslide deposit, not necessarily investments in park trails or infrastructure.

“My apologies if my priorities don’t seem to be in line with the priorities of other people, but this township has spent a lot of money on Short Line Hollow. It’s not abandoning Short Line Hollow,” DeMarco said.

Commissioner Joe Laslavic said the Reis Run landslide took place in his ward, and he gave the OK to dump the dirt at Short Line Hollow. For safety reasons, he said he would make the same decision again.

At this point, Laslavic said he believes the park is a “liability issue” to reopen because of the state of the neglected trails. Regardless, he said he hopes it can open this year.

While there are some fallen trees and broken glass, Kruth, who said he walked the closed trails in October, said the work could be handled by a crew of volunteers. The original trails created in 2016 and 2017, in fact, were carved by volunteers.

During a public comment period, Kruth said the survey and consultant work are “great,” but he questioned whether those plans had to prevent a spring reopening. He asked the commissioners whether the survey and consultant were part of a “concurrent plan” to allow volunteers to carve and reopen the trails in March.

Without a concrete plan or timeline after the commissioners’ March voting meeting that would reopen Short Line Hollow, Kruth said he plans to begin consulting with his attorney about bringing litigation against Ross.

Since the park is a public space, he said he believes keeping it closed violates the Pennsylvania Donated or Dedicated Property Act.

DeMarco said he was unsure when the consultant would be brought on, but he said he expected the township’s parks and recreation committee to hire someone “promptly.”

A potential lawsuit from Kruth and an “expedited” opening would force the town into a position, DeMarco said, of heightened liability risk. Before reopening, he said the consultant would assess the state of the trails and the work required to restore them. He also said he hopes to have the park open this year, but it is unclear whether that will happen.

A practicing attorney, DeMarco said he is confident any potential lawsuit would be thrown out by a judge.

Commissioner Chris Eyster, who walked the trails with Kruth in October, said he agrees that the park should be reopened come spring, though he said he has done everything he can to “stave off litigation.”

Also a lawyer, Eyster said he wants to research further whether Ross would possess immunity to potential litigation resulting from park-related injuries, hoping to discuss that with the solicitor and Ross’ insurance company. He said he believes the issue of liability is a “red herring.”

Before the commissioners’ next meeting, he said he plans to introduce an agenda item to vote on reopening the trails.

“If it’s (the people’s) park, and the DEP says we can open it, why aren’t we doing it?” Eyster said.

The next Ross commissioners voting meeting is March 17.