Murrysville will return $623K, put amphitheater project on hold

When the state gives you $623,000, they want to see it put to good use.

But after the cost for a proposed amphitheater project at Murrysville Community Park started ballooning in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, municipal officials opted to take a step back.

On Wednesday, they opted to return the grant and postpone plans for the amphitheater and accompanying amenities like restrooms and additional parking.

“It’s a little bittersweet that we’re returning such a large sum,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said.

However, with the grant set to expire again at the end of the year, Nestico said the best course of action was to return the money and reconsider the amphitheater sometime down the line.

Murrysville officials began exploring the project in response to a 2018 community survey asking what residents would like to see in their parks. Answers included a splash pad and playground — which were installed a couple years later — as well as the more-ambitious goal of an amphitheater at Murrysville Community Park.

They were initially awarded a $300,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development that required a 100% match by the municipality.

An original $800,000 cost estimate rose to $1.2 million in 2021 and $1.6 million in 2022.

Along the way, Murrysville officials returned the grant in order to pursue one more than twice its size.

But Nestico said the most recent cost estimates are near $2.1 million.

“The cost literally went out of control,” said Councilman Mac McKenna. “It was just so much more money than we thought. I hate to see it not happen, but I think now is just not the right time.”

Councilman Matthew Olszewski wanted to know if it was possible to shift the funding to another park project.

“If we apply again, we can certainly add items in other than just the amphitheater,” Nestico said. “But in this case, the grant was awarded specifically based on that project.”

Nestico suggested that it may be time to update the 6-year-old survey about park amenities.

“We can hone in on whether this type of project is still desired by the community and if this is the best location for it,” he said.

Council received some pushback on the project from nearby residents, who said the single-lane, berm-free Wiestertown Road is not equipped to handle the traffic generated by the park.

Nestico said returning the grant doesn’t affect Murrysville’s eligibility for future funding.

“It will let us take a look at the overall scope of the project,” he said. “The best option, unfortunately, is to return the funds and reexamine things in the future.”