The Greene County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to add an amendment to its 1977 lease with Cumberland Township, ending the county’s responsibility for the Wana B Park pool and authorizing its demolition. The pool has been out of service since 2023 after geological subsidence caused repeated leaks.
Lease termination and financial commitment
Commissioner Blair Zimmerman explained the decision, saying the county had “discussed this 100 times” with township officials and the public. “We’re one of the few, if any, counties around that have multiple pools, and even our good pools lose money,” Zimmerman added.
Under the new addendum, Cumberland Township will manage the demolition project and related contracting. Greene County will contribute up to $100,000 toward the costs, paid in annual reimbursements of $25,000 beginning next year.
Future use of the site
Board Chairman Jared Edgreen noted that the five‑acre parcel returned to the township could become a splash pad and arcade, keeping a water feature in the park while providing a family‑friendly amenity.
With the pool’s closure, Greene County now operates two public swimming facilities: the Greene County Water Park in Waynesburg and the Mon View Pool in Greensboro.
Brownfield cleanup and Project Hummingbird
During the public comment period, Center for Coalfield Justice organizer Christina Blasinsky raised questions about the former Robena Mine site. The proposed Project Hummingbird would use 1,400 acres to house two natural‑gas turbines totaling 910 megawatts, supplying power to a hyperscale data center.
Commissioners clarified that recent talks with Monongahela Township officials, U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, and U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler focused on environmental mitigation for the brownfield, not the data‑center project itself. Edgreen said the county is seeking federal funding to clean up the site, which continues to leach coal refuse into the Monongahela River, posing air and water hazards.
Commissioner Zimmerman reported no recent communication from International Electric Power regarding Project Hummingbird, describing the silence as “crickets.”
GRACE program funding
The board also approved more than $256,000 in contracts through Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost‑share Enhancement (GRACE) Program. Funded in part by Act 13 impact fees, the program supports soil health and water quality improvements.
The largest allocation, $109,150, will fund forestry projects. Additional funds will support watering systems, interior pasture divisions, streambank fencing, and fertilizer and lime applications for 681 acres of farmland.
Edgreen praised the program, noting that many counties lack such cost‑share opportunities. “We’ve been highlighted at the state level for this work, so we’re excited that more and more people every year are joining the program and adopting environmentally friendly practices on their land and farms,” he said.
Community impact
Local residents expressed mixed feelings during the meeting. Some welcomed the prospect of a new splash pad, while others emphasized the importance of completing the brownfield cleanup before any new development proceeds.
The commissioners’ actions reflect Greene County’s commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources, ensuring that taxpayer dollars support safe, sustainable recreation and agricultural initiatives.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
