Borough, East Union to explore Pumpy revitalization
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - The Pumping Station Dam in April of 2020.
SHENANDOAH – After ten years of inactivity, vandalism, and a brush fire, officials are discussing the possibility of bringing the Pumping Station Dam recreational area back to life.
The dam, midway between Brandonville and Girard Manor on Pumping Station Road in East Union Township, was a public fishing and recreation area from the 1950s until around 2010. It has been owned by the borough since the early early 20th century when it was a primary source of drinking water for Shenandoah.
East Union Township Supervisor Kyle Mummey approached Shenandoah Borough Council at last week’s workshop about seeking funding to revive and reopen the facility.
“I feel it’s a good idea that we proceed with that as a joint venture between the borough and the township and I’d like permission to form a committee along with them to explore potential funding to bring that back,” said Leo Pietkiewicz, borough councilman.
No funding from the borough is available for the project currently, council Vice President J.P. Dombrosky said, but the committee would explore different grant options.
Councilwoman Eileen Burke questioned how Mummey attended a workshop, despite such meetings being open, public meetings.
“I don’t see it being an issue that we go in conjunction with them and potentially proceed with looking for funding to rectify a recreation area north of the mountain, sort-of off the same idea as Sweet Arrow Lake which would help people with recreation,” Pietkiewicz said.
Pietkiewicz ran the Pumping Station Preservation Association for 16 years until its closure around 2010, when, he said, they ran into dead-ends seeking funding.
“Maybe now is the time to see if there’s funding. We’re only trying to improve quality of life around here. We’re not trying to do anything bad, nothing sneaky,” Pietkiewicz said. “My request is that we join in with the township as a jointure and proceed forward with this. Where it leads, it leads.”
“If it leads nowhere, at least we tried,” Pietkiewicz added.
“We can’t get funding for the town, and you’re looking for a recreational park. I’m saying there are bigger issues,” Burke said.
“Eileen, when you look for grant funding, it’s specific to certain projects. We don’t know if there’s grant money out there for recreation. When I looked 15 years ago, there was nothing available,” Pietkiewicz said. “Is there now? I don’t know. We’re just asking to proceed with looking at all aspects to possibly bring a recreation area back to a viable use.”
“If it falls through, it falls through. Then there’s other options you look at,” Pietkiewicz added. “If there’s no viable use for recreation and there’s no funding out there, then the borough has to proceed with another option and that’s a potential sale of it. But let’s see if we can bring it back as recreation first.”
Pietkiewicz said he believes the idea would be popular, that there’s a significant amount of local residents who’d want a local fishing spot.
“I think if you took a public opinion poll to revitalize the pumping station, I don’t think you’re going to get too many people that are going to say no. I think more are going to say yeah,” Pietkiewicz said. “Yes, it’s close to my heart. I ran it for 16 years, and I’m willing to try again, but all we’re doing is asking to try.”
Borough Manager Tony Sajone said that another reason East Union contacted the borough was because the township planned to fine the borough for the condition of the property.
Pietkiewicz said that garbage has been cleaned up at the facility, and that he will be securing the valve door on Friday.
“That was one of their concerns, with that door being [open,]” Pietkiewicz said. “Since the Pumping Station Preservation Association folded up, vandalism has happened over there. I’ve gone over there numerous times. I’ve sealed up the windows on the old pump house. They’ve taken all the wire out of our concession stand that the club raised their own funds for. They’ve stolen stuff out of the sheds, they’ve damaged things down at the hatchery, pipes have been damaged at the hatchery.”
“What their concern was, they didn’t like the garbage, it’s an eyesore when people go through there, so they’ve asked us to clean it up and to address any potential safety issues,” Pietkiewicz said.
Solicitor Jim Amato suggested a vote on Pietkiewicz’s committee proposal, and to have a representative of East Union present their side at a borough council meeting.
Council voted 6-1 to approve the committee, with Burke casting the sole dissenting vote.
The Pumping Station Dam, affectionately known as “The Pumpy” by locals, is owned by the Borough of Shenandoah, and has been since 1909.
The dam was once a part of the borough-owned water system when Shenandoah was home to three competing water companies, the borough-owned Shenandoah Public Water Works, the Girard Water Co., and the Citizens Water Co.
When the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah (MABS) was formed in the 1940s, merging the three companies, the Pumping Station Dam became a recreational area under the purview of the the Shenandoah Pumping Station Project Booster Club, the Pumping Station Recreation Committee, and most recently, the Shenandoah Pumping Station Preservation Association.
A 1961 article in the Shenandoah Evening Herald described the facility as “among the finest trout waters in the state.”
In the 1980s, the facility was open to picnics and camping for Shenandoah Valley residents, according to the Herald.
The facility closed around 2010, when the Commonwealth Department of Environmental Protection ordered the borough to make repairs to the dam, which would’ve cost nearly $2 Million at the time, and the grounds have since fallen into disrepair.
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This is in response to the Pumpy opening back up. That is the best idea you can do. Can’t you also run a go fund me to help with the costs you may be surprised at the response you get from people. It won’t hurt to try. If need be I’ll start it….
What the hell is wrong with Burke THERES little enough for people to do in the area. Reopening the pumpy would certainly be a plus for the area. If some sort of grant is available take advantage of why leave grant money for the large cities all the time use it and provide some sort of entertainment for the people that’s in the area for once.