Alexander “Sasha” Napolitano hopes the next time he plays in Leetsdale’s Henle Park, it will be on some new climbing and spinning playground gear.
The 14-year-old was among about a dozen Quaker Valley-area residents who got a look at new play area concepts for the park along Ferry Street on Jan. 29.
Plans call for a play area for 2- to 5-year-olds and one for 5- to 12-year-olds.
“I think the separate playgrounds is good because it allows for safety of each child,” Alexander said.
The borough has been working with the civil engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic for about six months.
Chris Sarson, HRG’s certified playground safety inspector and landscape designer, led the presentation.
“We work for a lot of townships with a much bigger staff and a professional manager or planner, and they may not dedicate as much time to this specific task as Leetsdale has,” Sarson said.
“(It’s) extraordinary for an all-volunteer council coming here and taking time not just to redo the playground but taking an interest in every single detail about the playground because it’s important to them.”
Three options were presented with the first being a more traditional play area with a few swings, small climbing activities and a 10-foot slide, the largest in all the options.
The second option was more contemporary with some sensory play amenities, a rotating climber/merry-go-round, swings and a slide.
The third option was described as more futuristic with an explorer dome-shaped jungle gym. It also had some twisting, balancing and other climbing components as well as different shaped swings.
Playground surfaces could be made with engineered wood fiber or pour-in-place rubber.
All three options featured shaded seating areas for families to watch their young ones.
“I feel like this is really good because it allows parents to be close to the kids,” Alexander said. “People who need to come to their kids’ assistance don’t have to walk through the grass that could be full of bees and ticks.”
His younger brother, Costa, 6, said he really liked the spinning play areas and the swings.
Their mother, Leetsdale Council President Maria Napolitano, said the borough likely will take parts from all three options to create the final playground design.
The playground options were compiled with input from a community engagement session hosted by the borough in December.
The current playground surface is a mix of metal and plastic and just has a few swings. It also is closer to Ohio River Boulevard than the proposed designs.
The borough plans to remove the dilapidated tennis courts to make room for the playgrounds.
No cost estimates were linked to the playground options.
Leetsdale engineer Dan Slagle said he liked the HRG presentation, notingit gave borough officials a lot to consider.
“They provided the borough and council members a variety of options that you can’t help but like,” Slagle said. “Any of these options are going to be a total improvement to Henle Park as well as entice people to come into the borough. It is going to be a wonderful facility when it’s all done.”
Other playground project details include a connection of the ADA sidewalks into the park from the war memorial to the playgrounds. A seating area between the splash pad and the playgrounds also would be installed.
The hope is to finalize designs and have the project ready to go out for bid in June or July. Construction could start as early as August and be done around Thanksgiving.
Park upgrade funding
The borough in November 2024 was awarded a $249,000 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for Leetsdale’s recreation upgrades. It comes with a 50% borough match.
Five additional grants totaling about $113,000 have been obtained to offset the required matching funds. Other funding sources also are being sought. The total park improvement budget is $500,000.
“Money is always tight,” Slagle said. “We’ve always tried to have a vision and then phase projects into that vision.”
The proposed playgrounds are the latest phase of upgrades to Henle Park. The borough installed four ADA parking spaces, replaced the pavilion and made splash pad upgrades within the past 10 years.
Upgrading Henle Park amenities were among the projects outlined in the borough’s 2023 comprehensive plan.
Parking still an issue
Borough officials believe the playground upgrades and other proposed park enhancements, such as resurfacing the basketball courts and adding a pickleball option, will attract more families to the area.
Where those folks are going to park has yet to be determined.
Negotiations continue between the borough and Leetsdale VFW Post 3372, which is next to the park.
Council passed an ordinance in December announcing its intent to take the lot by eminent domain “or other methods” in December.
Borough Solicitor Dan Conlon said after that meeting talks were underway with Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Pennsylvania’s State Judge Advocate Frank McGovern, who is representing the post.
Napolitano said negotiations are ongoing.
Post Cmdr. Bill Davis also had no update regarding the negotiations as of Feb. 2.
Parental response
Attendees of the Jan. 29 presentation were given raffle tickets to put in jars showing which options they liked best.
Megan DeGori, wife of Councilman James DeGori, was among the mothers who attended the presentation.
They have four children, including two adults, a 17-year-old and an 11-year old.
Megan DeGori said the older siblings take her nieces to the park often and believes the new playgrounds will be a welcomed addition.
She preferred option two mostly because of the climbing structures and variety of activities.
“I think there was a lot of amazing work that was put into the presentation, and the options that we have are extravagant,” Megan DeGori said. “I’m looking forward to whichever we decide is going to work best. I like to see the versatility for all of the different age groups and how they have the specified areas dedicated for the different age groups.”
Council Vice President Osman Awad, who runs the borough’s summer food program at Henle Park, said more work needs to be done at the park.
“I think we’re going to mix and match some stuff to come up with what’s most beneficial for the community,” Awad said.
Playground plans are expected to be posted later this year on the borough website. There is a Henle Park section under the Community tab on the main page at leetsdaleboro.net.
