SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. - Karen Rickaby hasn't told her yet.
She doesn't want to upset her 7-year-old daughter, Norah, who has spent countless hours of her childhood at South Abington Park, learning how to ride a bike, or meeting friends for her first play date.
"She'll be disappointed, probably devastated, at first," Ms. Rickaby, of Fell Twp., said. "It's the best park in the area. That's why we take the 20-minute drive so often."
On Monday, township supervisors announced the popular park will be closed this summer, starting as early as June 1 and running through Aug. 10 - the scheduled end date for the construction of a major sewer line project.
The basketball courts, playgrounds, athletic fields, pavilion, sprinkler system and gazebo all will be closed, as will the park's entrance to the half-mile walking trail.
While the trail will still be accessible, by the Layton Road entrance, there is a concern among residents that the limited public parking spaces in that vicinity will create problems.
"There's not going to be enough room for these cars," Linda Kellett, of Scranton, said. "It's a shame. People will want to walk the trail, but they'll stop visiting if they can't park their car anywhere close."
South Abington Twp. manager David O'Neill said the township has had an agreement with the owner of a nearby gravel parking lot for several years, and visitors will be able to park there. The lot, Mr. O'Neill said, will operate on a first-come, first serve basis.
"It will be tight, but at least it's something," Mr. O'Neill said. "The township is evaluating other options as well to see if we can secure more parking."
The park's temporary closure comes as the result of an estimated $2 million project to replace two township pump stations with a gravity sewer line.
Officials said it's an alternative to purchasing two new pump stations at $400,000 a piece and replacing them every 10 to 15 years. The gravity line, which is expected to start behind the South Abington Elementary School and continue through the park to the intersection of Edella and Venard roads, can last 150 years, Mr. O'Neill said.
Negotiations are ongoing between the township and the Abington Heights School District regarding the line's placement, district Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said.
"We understand the necessity of this project and appreciate they are waiting until the summer to start construction, but we still have to examine what affects such a line would have on our students safety, if any," Mr. Mahon said. "It's an ongoing process."
In the meantime, supervisors are focusing on the park's future and what they can do to improve it during the estimated 80-day construction period.
This week, Supervisor Mark Dougherty will walk through the park with architect Tom McLane of McLane Associates.
"I'd like to turn this into an opportunity for us to put this park 10 years ahead," Mr. Dougherty said.
Among the items listed on the supervisors' preliminary to-do list are a new pavilion, refurbishing two basketball courts and enhancing the playground area. Nothing has been finalized, though, and supervisors said they are open to residents' suggestions.
As the coach of a coed softball team playing in the NEPA Church Softball League, Ken Gardoski of Clarks Summit said he will miss playing at his team's home field - especially because his church will enter the season as the defending champions. He said he is looking forward to when the park reopens, but for now has to focus on where his team will play its home games this summer.
"Hopefully we will be able to come up with something," Mr. Gardoski said.
The cost for the park's planned renovations is unknown at this point, Mr. Dougherty said, as the supervisors are still in the early stages of determining what areas they want to address.
When they do move forward with the plan, supervisors will use money from a 1 percent recreation tax they started imposing on residents about 15 years ago.
"We have the money," said Mr. Dougherty, who said he's not sure how much funding is budgeted for recreation, as the 2013 budget will be first made public on Nov. 26. "And, to be honest, I'd consider taking out a loan to help renovate this park. It's that big a deal to this community."
Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter