Diane Morse Nemeth, of Coitsville, looks at the McGuffey Family Pond at the William H. McGuffey Wildlife Preserve in the township. Members of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society, which donated the pond and property to Mill Creek MetroParks 24 years ago, contend park officials have failed to maintain the body of water and dock in the foreground. Nemeth said she feels the deteriorating dock poses a significant safety hazard.

COITSVILLE — A long-simmering point of contention between Mill Creek MetroParks officials and William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society members regarding a small, nondescript pond can be distilled to how a provision in a written agreement between them is interpreted.

“They keep saying, ‘We’re under no obligation to maintain the pond,” Richard S. Scarsella, chairman of the historical society’s board of directors, said last week. “The pond situation is a perfect example of a lack of transparency, a lack of decision making and a lack of accountability.”

But Aaron Young, Mill Creek MetroParks’ executive director, countered: “Currently, there are no plans to develop a master plan regarding the pond. We operate with 100 percent transparency.”

Both parties are referring to the McGuffey Family Pond near the entrance to the 73.6-acre McGuffey Wildlife Preserve, which the historical society donated, along with a $15,000 one-time contribution, to the park district in 1998.

Scarsella and other society members contend park officials have neglected to properly maintain the body of water and have allowed it to turn into what they say resembles a small swampy wetlands.

THE PACT

The historical society and the park interpret differently one of 22 provisions in a July 25, 1998, written agreement between them, which states the $15,000 donation will be made “with the restriction that the funds be used only for improvements or maintenance of the property.”

Even though the word “pond” is not in the document, maintaining the parcel also implies taking care of that body of water, which sits just off McGuffey Road, Scarsella argues.

Young, however, called the expectation 24 years later that the money should have been invested specifically in the pond’s well-being “absurd.”

“The society gave up the right to solely dictate what happens at that property on the date the agreement was executed,” said Young, who joined the MetroParks in 2015.

The agreement also called for a gravel lot to be installed at the entrance to the property, the park district maintaining existing trails and a meadow for wildlife habitats, nature hikes and programs being scheduled, and trees and shrubs being planted for wildlife habitation.

A VISIT

Along with Scarsella, Shirley Eckley, the society’s president, and Diane Morse Nemeth of Coitsville, made their feelings known about the state of the pond during a visit there last week.

Much of it is covered on top with light-green algae and silt while one section has been nearly filled in with grass. Skunk cabbage and cattails are growing on either end.

In addition, a deteriorating wooden dock largely covered with leaves and fallen branches sloping at a 45-degree angle toward the shallow water is on one side.

“I’m embarrassed, to be truthful,” said Morse Nemeth, who also expressed concern that the dock poses a significant safety hazard, especially for children, which could lead to a lawsuit in the event of an injury.

HISTORIES

Morse Nemeth’s late mother, Dorothy Morse, was a historical society founding member who was initially opposed to donating the land to Mill Creek MetroParks. A tour of the property in the late 1990s – which included the pond that was in pristine condition – convinced her mother to sign off on the purchase, however, Morse Nemeth recalled.

Eckley, who also is a descendent of the McGuffey family, said she wants the pond to be maintained and manicured also for future generations to enjoy.

Scarsella, who also was a special education teacher at the former East Middle School, added that at least a fence should be erected around the dilapidated dock to prevent anyone from falling off.

He also took umbrage with Young’s contention that the historical society, which acts as a custodian to the property, is not considered a major park patron.

“We are not done,” Scarsella said, adding that he’s tried to work with park officials on the matter and holds no animosity toward them.

Also on the property is a marker denoting McGuffey’s boyhood home. The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

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