In 1907, the first-ever Rotary Club project was the construction of a single-stall men’s restroom in Chicago.

Some 113 years later, the Delmont-Salem Rotary Club is looking to the past for its 2021 service project: proposing to build a restroom at Delmont’s Rose Wigfield Parklet.

Incoming club president Harold Hicks secured Delmont Council’s approval to seek a $5,000 grant. It would help fund construction of a 96-square-foot building, at property the borough has purchased adjacent to the Greensburg Street park.

Hicks said a preliminary cost estimate was $50,000.

“I think that’s ridiculous for a building of that size,” Hicks said. “I think there’s probably an Amish work crew we can hire to build it for half that price.”

That would still require some additional fundraising, but Hicks has experience in that area. As a member of the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club, Hicks co-chaired a multi-million-dollar project to build the Mazeroski Miracle Field Complex at Murrysville Community Park.

The Wigfield Parklet hosts the borough’s farmer’s market and, in the past, has hosted its Delmont Daze festival.

“All of the utilities are there except electricity,” public works chief Bill Heaps said.

Council voted 6-1 to have Hicks pursue the grant. Councilwoman Becky Matesevac voted no.

“I think it would make it much more useful for renting out the park,” Councilman Dennis Urban said. “It could be rented for an event or a birthday party.”

In recent years, the Delmont-Salem Rotary Club’s service projects have included a borough sign for Delmont and a park entrance sign in Salem .

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