IMAGES PROVIDED Artistic renderings by Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site show what The Summit might look like upon its completion. The more than $20 million investment seeks to bring Sullivan County a state-of-the-art wellness center.

LAPORTE — In what would be the largest ever investment of its kind in rural Sullivan County, a private foundation run by a county native envisions building a wellness center which has the backing of local officials and is generating excitement within the community to revive a long-standing dream.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, upon a recent visit to Laporte, called the project a “game-changer.”

“Every community deserves access to health and wellness resources, as well as ample recreational activities,” Casey said.

From Ricketts Glen State Park to World’s End State Park and the vistas on the Loyalsock Trail, the county with endless mountains that reach to the horizon has no public place from which to exercise, walk/run on an indoor track or swim laps year-round. There is a great need.

“We want our community members to lead healthy, vibrant lives,” said Mary Baumunk Blondy, of Loyalsock Foundation, a non-profit organization that is spearheading efforts to bring The Summit to fruition.

“It is going to happen,” she recently told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Blondy grew up in Shunk, at the far northwest of the county. After attending Sullivan County School District, Blondy went on to a career in commercial and investment banking and is now back home and committed to making The Summit a reality.

The Summit, according to draft conceptual operational plans, could be constructed and open within the next 5 years. That’s if the current pace of progress continues.

“We are seeing progress and working on communicating the vision and plans in the community and beyond,” Blondy acknowledged during a presentation at the Sun-Gazette.

Blondy described the amenities of a facility that Sullivan County has never seen before.

Not only would the anchor be an indoor wellness center, the surrounding property would have outdoor recreation opportunities to serve the county and region year-round.

Not a dream that happened overnight

The concept of The Summit began with an idea and a need, one that was born 16 years ago when the Sullivan County Recreational Association (SCRA) was formed.

The SCRA had a vision of raising funds to build a wellness facility that would serve the community, according to Arnie Kriner, a former liaison for state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township. Yaw has been a supporter since 2019 when he and the Sullivan County commissioners sponsored Loyalsock Foundation as a recipient for future potential state funding.

Kriner sat in on the presentation, and added how the SCRA has focused its efforts not only on fundraising, but on improving the existing recreational opportunities throughout the rural county.

Over the years the SCRA has funded soccer fields and baseball fields and paid for sports equipment and youth teams yet never lost track of the vision of bringing a wellness center to the region.

“In 2007, The Sullivan County Recreation Association was formed to join together all communities of the county to better the recreation of small towns and areas until the ultimate goal of building a recreational facility could be achieved. Over the years, soccer fields as well as baseball fields were built or updated, playgrounds were built, monies funded youth soccer and basketball to name a few organizations until the time came for the organization to partner with the Loyalsock Foundation to pursue the dream of building the facility in the county seat to meet the recreational needs of both young and elderly of the community.”

With the foundation’s purchase and lease of multiple acres contiguous to the county’s only kindergarten through 12th grade school in Laporte, as well as the receipt of a gift of property by benevolent landowners, the plans moved forward.

Blondy paused in her presentation, smiling, and acknowledging those who contributed without asking for a dime.

“Volunteers,” she said.

Volunteers from across the county continue to write grants, recruit support from government and business organizations, solicit donations, survey and conduct research on the community’s health needs. The Vortex Team, a core group of Loyalsock Foundation volunteers, has worked tirelessly to move the mission forward.

From a bird’s eye view

Architectural concept plans were developed that showcase the lumber industry of Sullivan County with a noticeable design feature: the building will be shaped like a circular saw and will include other natural elements giving homage to the beauty of the Endless Mountains.

Much more was described by Blondy regarding the facility and concept design that was created by Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site of Blue Bell in Montgomery County and Ballard*King & Associates of Denver, Colorado

It is a design that was based on several community surveys, a thorough market and operations analysis and feedback from seasonal and permanent residents and visitors to the rural county.

Literally, months of brainstorming and discussions by the Vortex Team generated many ideas and drafts that were sketched and reviewed, Blondy said, culminated in the final concept designs, available on Loyalsock Foundation’s website.

Progress seen

More recently, the Foundation purchased slightly more than 2 acres of land from Light Line Trust, Blondy said.

This section borders Route 42 and will be the location of the entrance to The Summit.

The last two parcels, of a combined 70 acres dedicated for the site, were purchased from the Sullivan County School District, a transaction that was reviewed in a public hearing held and approved by the county Court of Common Pleas judge last November.

The closing took place on Sept. 28.

The Summit is a sum of its parts. More than the building itself, the area has a natural feature that will serve as a future site for a rock ledge amphitheater, Blondy said.

The parcels acquired from the Sullivan County School District were purchased with donations from C&N Bank and Woodlands Bank through the state Department of Community and Economic Development Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. The Foundation also spent time at the last Sullivan County Fair during Labor Day weekend, where it displayed and unveiled conceptual design plans and answered questions from fairgoers, she said.

Strong governmental interest

Several lawmakers have shown interest in the project and are supportive of its development. Besides Senator Casey they include: state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township; state Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Towanda and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas.

In addition, state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, paid a personal visit to the site on Sept. 27. Hamm took a walking tour with Blondy.

Other visitors to the site have included Cain Chamberlain and Savannah Schools of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, and Frank Thompson and Katie Prichard of the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission.