Parks in East Suburbs get state money for improvements

Dillon Carr
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 9:21 a.m. | Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 9:21 a.m.

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The Maple Grove pavilion at Penn Hills Community Park will be demolished and replaced with a new one using funds recently allocated via state grants.

Penn Hills, Verona, Oakmont and Plum are slated to receive state grants totaling more than $650,000 to be used for park improvements, state Sen. Jay Costa Jr. announced Tuesday.

Penn Hills got $104,410 to replace the Red Oak and Maple pavilions at Penn Hills Community Park along Colorado Street. The grant required a 15%, or $18,440, match from the municipality, bringing the project cost to nearly $123,000.

The new pavilions will provide better drainage and increase capacity for groups who rent out the structures for events. Current seating capacity is up to 70 people. The new Maple Pavilion will make room for up to 75 people and the Red Oak Pavilion will have a seating capacity of 150 people, said Meg Balsamico, principal planner for Penn Hills’ Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Plum got $150,000 to rehabilitate Logans Ferry Park. Plum Manager Michael Thomas said the slated improvements include a new play area and structure with a safety rubber surface, new sidewalks with better stormwater drainage, a parking area and ADA improvements.

Thomas said the park’s basketball court will also be updated. The project is expected to cost around $249,000, Thomas said.

Oakmont and Verona will each get $200,000 for parks in those boroughs.

In Oakmont, that money will go toward developing Chateau Beach Park, a lot along the Allegheny River that officials are now eyeing as a kayak park. A separate grant award of $139,000 will be used to rehab the track at Riverside Park.

In Verona, the grant will fund the construction of a new pavilion at Cribbs Field, the borough’s main recreation area. The project will include the demolition of the existing pavilion and the construction of a new one.

The statewide funding is coming from the Marcellus Legacy Fund, which allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for “planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects” through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.