Murrysville parks reopen, but splash pad, community center remain closed
Share this post:
Murrysville officials have reopened the “destination playground” at Murrysville Community Park, and are hoping that it will remain a viable destination this summer through proper health and safety precautions.
Council members began working through the logistics of reopening recreation sites at their June 3 meeting, just two days before Westmoreland County entered the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan.
Tennis and basketball courts are open for singles and doubles play, playgrounds have reopened and pavilions are open for reservations, Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said.
“What we intend to do is post signs at strategic locations to encourage social distancing,” Morrison told council. One new feature that remains closed is the splash pad at Murrysville Community Park, which was installed last summer and proved to be extremely popular.
That popularity is now generating health and safety concerns among municipal staff.
“We have some real reservations there about opening,” Morrison said. “We’d like to continue evaluating and make a decision as of July 1.”
Morrison said staff has concerns about controlling crowds at the splash pad, particularly with some other area pools announcing they would be closed for the summer.
“We have one of the only water features in the area. It’s a concern,” Councilman Loren Kase said, adding that he would support a small-scale “trial opening” in the future.
“At some point we have to try it and see what happens,” he said.
Portable toilets have been installed, as the playground restrooms are closed.
The Murrysville Community Center and Senior Center on Carson Avenue remains closed as well.
“That’s really dependent on our ability to properly sanitize the facility, post-rental,” Morrison said. “The heavy use is on Friday and Saturday, and we don’t have people available on the weekend to clean the facility. We’re getting very close to that, but we’re not there yet.”