Westmoreland County is planning $2.2 million in improvements at Allegheny Township’s Northmoreland Park this summer.

Brandon Simpson, the county’s parks and recreation director, said the work will include adding a large playground, a walking trail and a handicapped-accessible kayak and canoe launch.

Soccer complex No. 2, used by the Kiski Area Soccer League, also is slated for improvements, including about 50 new parking spaces, grading work and drainage upgrades.

A splash park that had been set to accompany the playground was nixed because of feasibility and cost issues, Simpson said.

The playground will be located at ball field No. 1 and be unlike any other in the county’s park system. Simpson said plans include mounds and more open and separate play pieces.

A mile-long walking trail will be added around the loop at the top of the hill near pavilion 8.

The handicapped-accessible kayak and canoe launch will be built near the boathouse by Northmoreland Lake. The primitive gravel boat launch located at the opposite end of the lake will remain.

Simpson said the lake trail’s wooded section of the 1.1-mile loop around the lake will be removed and replaced to fix ongoing drainage issues.

“The trail will be closed for an undetermined amount of time, but a new trail with a more porous surface will be installed,” Simpson said.

Deciding on what improvements to make at Northmoreland, the county’s largest regional park, was based on feedback from park visitors, Simpson said. The county took online surveys in 2019.

Simpson said there has been an uptick in park usage over the past year.

“Without a doubt we’ve been more packed since covid,” Simpson said.

Northmoreland encompasses 548 acres. Its 17-acre lake is stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with warm-water fish and trout.

The park has 11 pavilions, a BMX track, a model radio-controlled airfield, six soccer fields, four ball fields, multiple tennis and basketball courts and room for hunting.

Brandon estimated construction will last about three months and run from summer to the fall. The county hopes to solicit bids from contractors this spring or summer.

The work will be funded with a combination of state and county funding, along with private donations and proceeds from the annual March for Parks fundraiser. This year’s event is scheduled for March 27 at the county’s nine parks.

“We’re taking a different approach. Instead of two locations, we have more, and the goal was to spread people out,” Simpson said.

Participating parks include Northmoreland, Twin Lakes, Mammoth, Cedar Creek, Historic Hanna’s Town, Anne Rudd Saxman Nature Park, Bridgeport Dam and two locations along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Export and Murrysville.

Simpson said last year’s event drew about 600 virtual participants and raised about $88,000.

“Normally, we get about 1,000 participants,” Simpson said. “This is the second year we’ve been affected by covid.”

Simpson said people who make donations of $30 or more receive an adult-sized T-shirt.