Cattails are growing in a section of Indian Lake, the water along Clay Pike in the southern end of North Huntingdon. That is how township manager Harry Faulk described the silt problem to TribLive in December 2024. Below the covered bridge, the spillway at the dam had also been deteriorating. The fix was expected to be expensive. "It's a major project," Faulk told the paper.
Almost two years later, the township has the money. The construction isn't scheduled until next year. So the lake you walk past this winter is the same silted lake from 2024, and it stays open later than any other park the township runs.
The Money Came in Two Grants
On September 15, 2026, North Huntingdon announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority had approved a $660,000 Local Share Account grant for the Indian Lake Rehabilitation Project. State Senator Kim Ward and Representatives Eric Davanzo and Brian Rasel shared the news. That grant was the second one. The township's parks department wrote a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in early 2025 and received the full $665,200 it asked for.
| Grant source | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| PA DCNR | $665,200 | Awarded earlier in 2026 |
| CFA Local Share Account | $660,000 | Approved, announced Sept. 15, 2026 |
| Project total | $1.3 million | Fully funded |
The two grants add up to the full $1.3 million cost. The township says that saves residents roughly that much in local tax dollars. The Local Share Account half comes from state gaming revenue, which is distributed under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004.
The money covers four pieces of work, according to the township:
- Dredging the lake to remove the silt
- Stabilizing the streambanks to cut down on erosion
- Repairing the pedestrian bridge
- Repairing Kenda Dam
The township says the dredging and streambank work should improve water quality. It says the bridge and dam repairs are about public safety and access through the park.
Why Funding Doesn't Mean Construction This Year
When the engineering contract was signed, TribLive reported that the project likely couldn't happen until 2026. Since then, the expected date has moved back. The township engineer's report from July 15, 2026 has "No updates to report" under Indian Lake and lists anticipated construction as 2027. The September grant news doesn't give a bid date, a start date or a schedule for lowering the water.
Here's what has happened so far:
- December 2024. Commissioners hired KU Resources for $18,500 to survey how deep the lake is, plan the dredging, handle permits and prepare bid documents for contractors. The underwater depth survey was finished that month.
- January 20, 2025. A preliminary permit for lowering the lake, a plan for disposing of the dredged material, and erosion-control plans went to township staff. Next stop was the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
- February 25, 2025. The application to lower the water in the lake was filed with the Fish and Boat Commission.
- March 27, 2025. Revised pedestrian bridge plans were provided for the DCNR grant application.
- October 2025. The township engineer's October 15 report noted that the dam inspection done in December 2024 found no new concerns beyond those in earlier reports. Engineers were preparing a study of the embankment's stability and seepage to decide how to repair it.
- July 15, 2026. Anticipated construction is listed as 2027.
- September 15, 2026. The second grant is approved, and the project is fully funded.
The dredging itself is more complicated than scooping out mud. Under KU Resources' contract, the water has to be lowered, and that plan needs Fish and Boat Commission approval before a permit is issued. A separate erosion and sediment control plan goes to the Westmoreland Conservation District. KU is also supposed to recommend a lining material or extra base layer before the lake is refilled. Every one of those steps has to happen before a contractor starts work. Even with the money in hand, it makes sense that the township's calendar points to 2027.
The Township Park That Stays Open After Dark
Until then, Indian Lake runs on its usual schedule, and that schedule is unusual. The township's posted hours give it a much longer day than any other park it runs.
| Opens | Closes | |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Lake Park | 5 a.m. | 10 p.m. |
| Other North Huntingdon Township parks | 8 a.m. | Sundown |
| Pavilion reservations, all parks | 9 a.m. | Sunset |
By early November, "sundown" closes the other township parks before many workdays end. Indian Lake's posted hours run three hours before the other parks open and well past dark in the evening. That makes it the only township park open on both ends of a winter workday.
The parks department already uses those late hours. This year's "Yoga Under the Stars" sessions met at 9 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month from May through August. They were held on the grass by the gazebo nearest the Clay Pike entrance, a spot no other township park could offer at that hour. Saturday morning yoga with Sunnie Vibes Studio used the same lawn in June and July. The free Tuesday Walking Club met at noon at the Seneca Pavilion from May 5 through August 25.
A Full Season on a Lake Waiting for Repairs
Silt and all, Indian Lake hosted some of the township's biggest kids' events this year. The parks calendar put both youth fishing derbies there, the spring derby on April 25 and the fall derby on October 3. The Halloween Trick or Treat Trail was scheduled there for Saturday, October 24. In August, a Mad Science "Bugs!" program for ages 3 to 6 took over the Seneca Pavilion.
One feature is temporarily missing. The township's geocache program lists finds in five parks, and the Indian Lake cache is marked as disabled until it can be replaced.
If you head down with a rod before the water is lowered, state rules apply as they do on any Pennsylvania water. The township's FAQ says anyone 16 or older needs a current Pennsylvania fishing license, signed in ink and displayed on a hat or outer garment. A license is also needed to take bait fish. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply to township lakes. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the Fish and Boat Commission's current rules for your own situation before you cast.
From a construction point of view, the dam and bridge work is the part to watch. Dredging changes how the water looks. Kenda Dam, the spillway and the pedestrian bridge are what you actually walk over. Once a contractor is hired, those pieces will decide which parts of the park close and for how long. The township hasn't published that plan yet, so for now the paths and pavilions stay as they are.
December's Township Calendar Moves to Other Parks
None of the December events on the parks department's 2026 list are at Indian Lake. The 5K is at Oak Hollow Park, the party is at the Public Works grounds, and the other two are contests:
- Gingerbread House Contest: December 1, with registration closing November 13
- Holiday House Décor Contest: December 1 through 18
- NHT Community Holiday Party: December 4 at Public Works
- Jingle Bell 5K Walk/Run: December 12 at Oak Hollow Park
The department published this list in July and noted that events may be added as planning continues. Check dates with the township before you register.
Both grants are in place and the drawdown application has been filed. Through this winter, the park keeps its posted hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
When Indian Lake's cleanup starts, Katrina will be watching the Kenda Dam and pedestrian bridge repairs closely, because her construction background means she knows what that kind of work involves. If you have questions about your corner of the township, Katrina Siffrinn is happy to talk. Let's talk about your neighborhood. Schedule a free local market consult.
