Tarentum's Dreshar Stadium, rich in sports history, 'served its time'

Amy Nulph grew up at Dreshar Stadium in Tarentum.

“My dad coached there for the Hornets, my brothers played there and now my kids are there with RYFO (Rams Youth Football Organization),” she said.

Plans to demolish the 87-year-old sports complex are bittersweet for Nulph and many area families.

Work is expected over the next three to five years as part of a comprehensive riverfront development plan to create spaces for everyone, officials said.

“It’s a heartache,” Nulph said. “Hopefully, we won’t lose it totally. I hope it will stay some sort of green space.”

Borough officials this summer unveiled three potential designs for Riverview Memorial Park and Dreshar Stadium that would overhaul the riverfront nearly the entire length of the borough.

Keely McDonald, a designer for Pashek+MTR, a landscape architect based in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood, said she is working with a committee to review community comments and devise a final master plan.

“The goal is to put the plan together, along with a cost estimate, and potentially present it to council at the end of August or early September,” she said.

Once approved, the borough can seek grants to help pay for the project.

Dreshar Stadium, originally named RiverView Park, was built in 1938 on the site of the former C.L. Flaccus Glass Co. plant, overlooking the Allegheny River.

It was part of the Works Projects Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The stadium enjoyed a rich history in Alle-Kiski Valley sports, namely as the home field of the former Tarentum High School Redcats. The field was renamed in 1941 to honor Tarentum football coach John Dreshar, who led the team to a WPIAL championship over Mt. Pleasant Ramsay in 1940.

The stadium also hosted the WPIAL champion Springdale and East Deer football teams in 1946. Springdale won the Class A championship, defeating Dormont. East Deer won the Class B championship, beating Bethel Park.

Springdale High School made Dreshar its home turf for varsity football from 1973 to 1977 while its stadium was being renovated.

For years after, the fields were the home of the Highlands Hornets youth football league, and, most recently, were used for Little League baseball and as a practice site for the Rams Youth Football Organization.

“I grew up in Tarentum and remember when Tarentum would hold the Halloween parade past here and so many events,” Councilwoman Maggie Smith said.

“It’s time to move forward to make it usable for everyone. There’s lots of wasted space as it sits now.”

Recreation Board President Carrie Fox said the fields aren’t the problem. It’s the bleachers.

“They are in deplorable condition,” she said.

“Several years ago, I spearheaded grants to replace the sidewalks, doors and back wall of the bleachers. It was an improvement, but it needs much more attention.”

Council already has condemned the seating area, citing safety hazards. Where the seats used to accommodate a few thousand people, they are now mostly unusable.

“I am thankful for many good times — baseball, football, fireworks and many other celebrations — but Dreshar Stadium served its time in the community,” Fox said.

Councilman Kevin Bertocki said the decision to move forward was easy, despite strong sentimentality.

“Growing up, sports were part of the lives of most families,” he said. “Interacting with your friends and making new friends was part of the norm.

“With the decline of people to the area and now with social media, and everyone hiding behind the screen, it has put a damper on a lot of sports. So in these changing times, we are trying to do things to the area that all age groups can enjoy.”

Bertocki said the borough is passionate about making the town a better place — and more of a destination — that highlights the riverfront.

Plans include three visions that range from beautification to a complete transformation. One would revamp Dreshar Stadium into a play space for all ages. It would have sports courts and a multipurpose area, and the borough’s spray park and playground would be moved there.

A canoe and kayak launch, 10-foot-wide paved trail and a 72-person gazebo also would be built.

Features of the other plans include smaller changes, such as an overlook with swing benches or a fountain.

More dynamic upgrades could include a challenge course for teens, an elevated deck with seating, dock space for five boats, fishing pier and a non-motorized boat ramp.

“With a new plan to modernize this space, Dreshar Stadium would be utilized by a wide variety of age groups,” Fox said. “I would like to see the Dreshar name remain, being it was such a staple to our community.”

McDonald said it’s a possibility that one of the park’s new features could take the Dreshar name.

“The goal is to revive the space so the community, as a whole, can use it,” she said. “But we want to also keep the history of it because it was a quintessential part of town.”