Choosing the color of shade-providing sails at Tarentum’s spray park seems like a minor issue.

But Borough Manager Michael Nestico said the problem is indicative of a larger one at Tarentum’s Riverview Memorial Park: there is no overall plan to guide decisions at the park along the Allegheny River.

The sails and new playground equipment won’t be installed until this fall.

But Nestico advised council to move now to hire a consultant to help the borough prepare a park master plan. The plan, he said, would make decisions regarding things like the color of the sails much easier.

Council members agreed to look into it, but some expressed concern about the potential cost.

Nestico said a master plan would give direction on park maintenance, plans and improvements.

“That would be a valuable thing,” he said. “The park is our biggest asset. We should treat it in that high regard.”

Councilman Brian Snyder said it’s a good idea.

“It takes it out of our hands,” he said.

Council members Adam Blythe and Carrie Fox raised concern about the cost, which Nestico said could be included in next year’s budget.

“I don’t think it would be a substantial cost,” Nestico said. “It would be worth the cost.”

But Fox thinks it would be a waste of money.

“We got bigger fish to fry in this borough,” Fox said. “I don’t think it’s the right time.

“We have a beautiful park,” she said. “Everybody loves our park.”

While the borough has been getting grant funding for improvements and additions to the park, there’s no end goal in sight, Nestico said.

“The park has no continuity,” he said. “We have an asset we’re not treating as importantly as we should.”

Having a plan could make getting future grants easier, Nestico said.

“A lot of the big parks all have a master plan,” he said.

Council did decide on the colors for the shade sails at the spray park — royal blue and lime green, atop black poles.

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