South Whitehall Director of Township Operations Randy Cope reports 415 children participated in this summer’s playground program, 75 more than last year.

Locations were set up at the Cetronia, Kratzer, and Parkway Manor elementary schools and were guided by South Whitehall Recreation Program Specialist Page Durflinger and 30 counselors, mostly college students.

Group trips were taken to an IronPigs game, a trampoline park and Beltzville State Park for a fossil hunt.

The culmination was a field day at Covered Bridge Park where activities such as relay races and tug-of-war took place.

Cetronia took the Golden Shoe Award.

Cope said heavy rains affected Covered Bridge Park.

“Eighty percent was under water twice,” Cope said. “Soccer goals were moved by the water and the split rail fence at the playground parking lot was affected.

“There was flood debris built up at the park and sediment from the water.”

He said construction of the new basketball courts has gone well, and they are ready for color coding.

In another park-related matter, Cope said the township is planning to purchase 18.65 acres at Brickyard Road, near the reservoir, this fall for $330,000.

The land adjoins nine acres received from the Hills at Winchester open space allotment.

“We are exploring different options for the Brickyard Road property, but at least more than half of it will be park, probably a passive park with trails,” Cope said.