East Vandergrift officials are moving forward with plans to revitalize Kiskiminetas River Park.
The public park, constructed in 1990, is along the banks of the Kiski River at the end of Elm and Kennedy streets.
Several years ago, vandals spray-painted over existing security cameras and painted graffiti on the cement floor and walls of the pavilion. A waterline burst soon after during winter, disrupting water service to two pavilion bathrooms.
Since then, the park has remained mostly underused and somewhat neglected, according to borough officials.
Swings are missing from the large swingset and the basketball court nets are absent.
Newly appointed councilman Jeremy Manners is spearheading efforts to restore the 1-acre park to its original glory.
“This could be the center of East Vandergrift,” Manners said. “I don’t believe everyone knows it’s back here.”
The covered pavilion remains locked and doesn’t have functioning bathrooms.
“We’re restoring water and sprucing up the bathrooms and adding a new commode and sink,” he said.
Council approved the waterline repairs and bathroom upgrades in February.
The pavilion rents for $100 per day, and Manners said he’s hopeful people will book the pavilion this summer, now that it’s slated to be fully operational, and has electrical outlets.
New 24/7 surveillance cameras were installed in the pavilion and the borough monitors the footage.
Manners is hopeful constant video surveillance will serve as a reminder to residents that the park is a community asset and for all to enjoy.
“It’s here to use, but be respectful of it,” Manners said.
Manners has applied for a $10,000 grant from the Port of Pittsburgh Commission and is awaiting grant status.
Lifetime East Vandergrift resident Brian Butch has lived on Elm Street for 56 years. He said unsupervised youth are to blame for the park’s fall into disrepair.
“The kids are running rampant. It’s a lack of supervision. I want to see this park back to where it was,” Butch said.
Butch said he twice had to confront youth vandalizing the park, once when young males lit a garbage can on fire and another time when he caught young boys using aluminum baseball bats to attempt to knock the locks off a door.
Manners said his fellow council members are supportive of his park improvement initiative.
“I do want to generate some community support. We need volunteers,” Manners said.
Future plans include painting the basketball court, renovating the existing horseshoe pit and planning festivals, such as a food truck event.
Manners said the grant, if approved, would finance updating the existing gravel canoe and kayak launch.
“I want to take those funds and put it back into the park,” Manners said.
The park gates are locked from dusk to dawn by the Vandergrift Police Department.
East Vandergrift’s other park is East Vandergrift Veterans Memorial Park, located at 249 McKinley Ave.
Bookings for the pavilion are made through the borough office at 724-567-7213.
