Renton, Logan's Ferry parks in Plum to get new playgrounds, other upgrades

Major renovations will start soon at two Plum parks.

Council voted 5-0 at a Sept. 22 special meeting to award more than $334,500 in projects for Renton and Logan’s Ferry parks. Councilmen Mike Pastor and Dan Hadley were absent.

Contracts include more than $156,000 to Apollo-based Sports & Recreation Associates for Renton Park improvements, about $85,500 to Palombo Landscaping and $93,000 to Sports & Recreation Associates for Logan’s Ferry Park upgrades.

Assistant borough manager Dave Soboslay said bid awards were split for “earth work” and equipment. The companies were the lowest out of seven bidders.

Upgrades to both parks include new playgrounds with rubber surfacing and swingsets, basketball court resurfacing, new parking areas, mulch and landscaping, according to borough buildings and grounds supervisor Joe Fischetti.

Renton’s existing swingset will be removed to help make way for a walking trail. Its pavilion will get new tables. Parking will be moved closer to the basketball court with additional spaces.

Logan’s Ferry currently has green space, a basketball court and weathered benches.

“A lot of this has been overdue,” said Ryan Delaney, councilman and parks and recreation chairman. “These are older parks. These are some of the older communities. We want to promote kids being healthy, kids being active and outside. The best way to encourage that is give them a playground to play on.

“We talk a lot about being a bedroom community with kids, and a wonderful district and all that. Well, kids need amenities to play on. Having grown up and played in Renton myself as a child, that’s definitely an upgrade that needed to happen.”

The borough received two Commonwealth Financing Authority grants to help pay for the projects. Grants include $75,000 for Renton and $150,000 for Logan’s Ferry. Plum would pay the difference.

Park planning began about a year and a half ago.

Soboslay said efforts were delayed by the covid-19 pandemic as well as flooding last July.

Renton improvements will be implemented in four phases, while Logan’s Ferry only needs two.

Construction is expected to begin by the end of October. Basketball court renovations might not happen until spring.

Council called for a special meeting to award the projects instead of waiting for its Oct. 12 voting session so work would not be pushed further into the winter months.

“This project has been delayed for as long as it’s been already,” Delaney said. “We really want to get it started. People in Logan’s Ferry have talked about how they don’t have a playground. We’re doing everything we can to get on the ball and get it out there and get it done.”

It is unclear when the upgrades would be completed.