create some hiking/trail areas in the community. I was also very
interested in preserving green space in the township.”
Upon reviewing the area’s land parcels, Shaffer discovered that
the township owned 60 acres along Cemetery Lane that weren’t
being used.
“I thought this would be an excellent area for a new trail
park and worked with others in Walk/Bike Ross and fellow
commissioners to investigate using the land to create a park,” he
says.
Steve Korbel, President of the Ross Township Board of
Commissioners, stresses that the park’s development was
primarily a result of volunteer manpower.
“Due to limited funds, the park was predominantly prepared
through hundreds of volunteer hours,” says Korbel. “Also, I know
that the township public works department was directed to make
several improvements that resulted in improvements to the area
that is now the Short Line Hollow Park.”
Walk/Bike Ross member Joseph Brandt says that even the
team of volunteers was surprised by the park’s fast development.
“When we first started working on the trails last spring, I had a
hard time imagining that we would make as much progress as we
did,” he says. “However, we had several volunteers who became
personally committed to making the trails a reality. As a result, we
now have over two miles of walking and mountain biking trails
cutting through the valley.”
Aside from the trails, which volunteers carved into the terrain,
the park’s natural habitat was left undisturbed. Therefore, there
are a variety of native plants and animals throughout the park.
“I am pleased we were able to preserve this green space in the
township and turn it into an excellent area for hiking – all at no
cost to Ross taxpayers,” says Shaffer. “It’s great to see Short Line
Hollow, now the largest in Ross, being utilized by residents from
all over the region. The ability to walk dogs in the park also meets
a key need that residents were asking for. I am very grateful for
all the volunteers who have made this happen and their ongoing
work.”
Korbel notes that there are plans to add more trails throughout
the park in the future—requiring more volunteer help.
“We are always looking for volunteers to clean up and to build
new trails,” he says.
Brandt agrees. “We are off to an exciting start, but the park is
still in its early development stage. There is still a lot of work to
be done on the existing trails, as well as on a few new trails we are
planning to build in the coming years,” he says. “However, it is
very satisfying to see what can be done through those who have
volunteered their time and energy toward making the vision a
reality. I hope that more people will see the potential of the park
and step forward to help us to make that happen.”
The park is the only one in Ross where leashed dogs are
permitted. It is open from dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Walk/Bike
Ross through the “Friends of Short Line Hollow Park” Facebook
page, or via email at [email protected]. n
ROSS TOWNSHIP
❘
SUMMER 2018
17