Bethel Park to get new security cameras in parks

Bethel Park officials plan to install new security cameras at all of its major parks within the next few years.

They started that effort this month with the purchase of seven from Dagostinio Electronic Services of Pittsburgh.

Council unanimously voted Monday night to add four cameras at Simmons Park and three at Village Green Park.

Public works director Susan Dolinar said both parks already have a few cameras from the same company, and the purchase will add to their security measures.

Her department, as well as parks and recreation and the police department, will be able to access footage at any time.

Councilman Don Harrison cited recent vandalism at borough parks as a reason for the cameras.

“These cameras will hopefully help us to identify the culprits,” he said.

Dolinar and borough Manager Laurence Christian said they hope the system will be a deterrent from destruction of public property.

“It’s really to help our residents and provide an early warning if something is going on,” Christian said. “It’s an added layer of security. There’s so many components to it. We’re trying to get cameras in our parks for monitoring. It allows us to be proactive.”

The new cameras are expected to be installed later this year.

The next batch of cameras will go to Millennium Park followed by Miner’s Memorial Park. It is unclear when they will be purchased.

Christian said he does not anticipate installing cameras at the smaller neighborhood parks such as Pine Tree.

“They don’t have the infrastructure that the larger parks have,” he said.

Borough officials planned more than $1.1 million in park upgrades in the past two years, including a new splash pad, playground and pavilions for a park along Park Avenue.

Council announced in June the winning visions of playground upgrades for Birch Tree, Oak Tree and Millennium parks.

The borough sent out surveys to neighboring property owners to find out what they wanted to see in their parks’ play areas. There were two options for each site.

Mayor recognition

Mayor Jack Allen on Monday recognized officials from Spartan Pharmacy for their efforts in vaccinating residents.

The medical supply business vaccinated 12,000 people via its six covid clinics from January to April at the community center.

The clinics were overseen by councilman Dr. Timothy Campbell. Spartan Pharmacy Manager Jodi Mitchell and President Adam Rice accepted the mayor’s commendation.

Spartan Pharmacy has a store in Bethel Park and two in Brentwood. Total vaccinations from the pharmacy since being able to acquire the vaccines is around 60,000.