Three towns join forces on recreation

Residents of Homestead, Munhall and West Homestead went to Barrett Elementary School in Homestead on Tuesday night to offer ideas for a new recreation plan for the three boroughs.

Jim Pashek of Pashek MTR, a firm that creates recreation plans for municipalities, said his company is trying to determine whether the parks in the three towns meet the needs of residents and are accessible to people with disabilities, among other issues.

Mr. Pashek said members of his company have visited and mapped all parks, walked the trails, and will do a safety audit of all playgrounds.

Several people said they would like to see a recreation center for the area.

“That is so badly needed,” Homestead Councilwoman Wanda Burwell said. “We must have somewhere where these kids can go without walking around the streets.”

Jamia Saunders of Munhall said the need for a recreation center is “huge.” Going to a recreation center helped her stay out of trouble as a teenager, she said after the meeting.

Dave Hahner of the former Homestead Area Economic Revitalization Corp. said his dream is to see a riverfront park with a boat launch created on 17 acres along the Monongahela River in West Homestead.

He said residents haven’t had access to the river since before World War II.

“A dog park would be a great idea,” Tim Glunt said. More than one mother said their children would like a spray park.

Cindy Bahn, who started work Monday as borough manager for West Homestead, said she would like to see recreational activities for all ages and ability levels. Some parks in other areas have adult fitness equipment near playgrounds so adults can work out within sight of their children, she said.

Several people mentioned the lack of a connecting trail from Homestead to the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.

Some said maintenance of existing parks is inadequate.

Katelyn Fisher of Munhall said she takes her children to parks outside the three-borough area because park cleanliness is a problem.

Matt Staniszewski, borough manager of Homestead, said 281 people had filled out online surveys about what they want in parks and playgrounds in the three boroughs but more public input is needed.

He encouraged residents to complete the digital survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SteelValley within the next two to three weeks. A blog has also been set up to collect input on the plan at http://recreationplan.blogspot.com/.

Members of Mr. Pashek’s firm are working with a steering committee consisting of the borough managers, three council members and three residents.

After an initial draft of the comprehensive plan is created from all input, another public meeting will be held to get more input. Then, a final plan will be submitted to the three boroughs for final approval, Mr. Staniszewski said.

After the meeting, Mr. Pashek said he hopes to have the plan completed by November, so the three boroughs can apply for funds to pay for recreation improvements at the beginning of the next funding cycle in April 2018.

Mr. Staniszewski said West Homestead received a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant of $45,000 for the comprehensive plan, and that each of the three municipalities is providing matching finds to cover the total $90,000 cost of the plan.