South Whitehall Township commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Oct. 21 authorizing the use of 2026 capital funds and professional services agreements to advance the second phase of the Jordan Creek Greenway project.

The 5-0 vote allows the township to continue engineering, design and permitting work for segments 35 through 40, extending the trail from Parkland High School toward Covered Bridge Park.

Township Long-Range Planner Chris Strohler said the township has secured approximately $2 million in state grant funding toward the project’s estimated $2.1 million cost. Funding includes $1.5 million through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program and an additional $500,000 grant recently awarded for engineering and construction.

Commissioners authorized the use of up to $100,000 from the township’s 2026 capital budget for engineering and permitting work, including a $64,974 agreement with Michael Baker International. They also approved a second agreement for $81,938 in 2027, contingent on adoption of the township’s 2027 budget.

Strohler said the greenway was originally planned in two phases. The first phase, covering segments 41 through 45 within Covered Bridge Park, was completed in 2024 using approximately $1 million in PennDOT funding.

The second phase will extend the trail between the park and Parkland High School across three privately owned properties. Strohler said unexpected stormwater management requirements have complicated the project and increased engineering needs.

Commissioner Sharon Fehringer-Ricker asked whether those challenges would affect the trail’s design and cost.

Strohler said stormwater flowing through ravines on neighboring properties has required engineers to develop more extensive drainage structures than originally anticipated. One portion of the trail will cross active farmland, requiring a structure capable of managing stormwater while supporting the weight of farm equipment.

Chris Stanford, a project manager with Michael Baker International, said environmental permitting and stormwater requirements are significantly more extensive than those encountered during the first phase, resulting in additional engineering work and higher construction costs.

The township plans to continue engineering through the winter, advance the PennDOT approval process in spring 2027 and advertise the project for bids in late 2027 or early 2028, Strohler said.

Board President Jacob Roth thanked Michael Baker International and Strohler for their work on the project and recognized the state agencies and elected officials who supported the township’s grant applications.

Roth also credited Strohler’s grant-writing efforts for helping the township secure funding and keep the project moving forward.