Oakmont officials have approved the next round of improvements to Creekside Park.
Council awarded an estimated $338,000 project to DeFrank Development for the relocation of a parking lot, grading and repaving of an existing trail and a new outfield fence for the baseball field.
The company was the lowest of three bidders. Start and completion dates have not been announced.
Borough Manager Scot Fodi said budgetary issues and questions about an easement agreement caused officials to scale back the project. Officials cut a proposed pedestrian/bicycle trail expansion.
The work is part of an overall upgrade to the recreation site off Dark Hollow Road, which already includes installation of a “pump track.”
A pump track is a continuous loop of berms and mounds that bicyclists can ride on without pedaling. Its name comes from the pumping motion that riders’ upper and lower bodies make as they ride around a track.
The asphalt track is a little more than 300 feet. It’s on about an 8,100-square-foot site in the park.
Oakmont received a $232,000 grant through the state Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program to help fund everything.
Fodi said the borough had set aside more than $80,000 for capital park maintenance costs, and will need to pull an additional $22,000 to make up the difference in the new project.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for parks in Oakmont right now,” said Tony Lascola, parks and recreation committee vice chairman. “I’m really glad that efforts from years ago are coming together to use this grant money to improve the parks. There’s still more projects to be out for bid and more grant money that hasn’t been spent.”
Lascola said the pump track is safe to ride, and the committee is working on a formal opening ceremony for later this year.
Other recreational projects still in the early stages include tree removal at Dark Hollow Woods and a proposed kayak park along the Allegheny River.
