Photo captured at Grantham Park - March 13th, 2026
A public post shared by Commissioner Eric Fairchild on the Upper Allen Township Community Page provided information about the March 18, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting, including Phase II of Grantham Park.
1946
The Grantham pond was originally installed. Township records later identified this as the starting point for the pond’s history.
1959
The pond was dredged, marking one of the earliest known major maintenance efforts.
1970
Upper Allen Township took over the pond.
2007
An independent study found the pond to be in decent shape overall but recommended dredging.
2019
Township staff reported water quality decline and responded by flushing the pipe and raising the outflow pipes.
2022
A Messiah University class studied the pond and recommended dredging and re-establishing the banks.
2023
After a report of a possible snakehead fish, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission inspected the pond. The snakehead was not found, but officials reported poor water quality, very few fish, and renewed recommendations for dredging. Township staff also said water levels had dropped significantly.
The Park and Recreation Board discussed the Grantham renovation project as a budgeted million-dollar effort. Minutes stated the pond portion was expected to cost roughly $400,000 to $500,000, with additional funding tied to a pending grant match.
At a Board of Commissioners meeting, Eric Fairchild asked when the Grantham Pond renovation would go out to bid. Township staff responded that construction was expected over the summer months, though the exact bid timing had not yet been determined. Officials also stated dredged fill could be moved to Winding Hill Park North for reuse.
Commissioner Walsh reported that the Park and Recreation Advisory Board had discussed Grantham Pond improvements, including dredging and pipe replacement in 2025, with trails potentially following the next year. The minutes also noted community interest in volunteering to help with park improvements.
A Public Improvements Committee agenda listed Grantham Pond as an active township project item, showing the project had moved into a formal review and planning stage before the Board.
The Park and Recreation Board reported that the Board of Commissioners had approved putting the Grantham Pond improvements out to bid.
Township staff reported the pond project would go out to bid the following week and would tentatively come before the Board of Commissioners at its second May meeting. Construction was estimated to begin in June and continue through October 2025, with the park expected to function as an active construction site during that time.
The Board of Commissioners reported that the Grantham pond and park rehabilitation work had been bid, with Kinsley Construction identified as the low bidder at $740,700 for Part 1 of the project. Township officials stated this phase focused on dredging and pond rehabilitation.
The township’s newsletter described the work as a two-phase improvement project, with phase one including dredging the pond and installing related improvements.
Current park context
The official township park page describes Grantham Park as a 5.2-acre public park with a pond, pavilion, grills, and playground amenities, placing the pond project within the larger setting of an established neighborhood park.
Public records indicate the Grantham Pond and Park project was funded mainly through Upper Allen Township budgeted funds, supplemented by a $250,000 DCNR grant for certain park improvements.