Irwin seeks money for park trail

People who like to walk or jog on the path around Irwin Park may soon be on a better path to fitness.

Irwin council authorized Lucien Bove, its engineer, to apply to Westmoreland County for about $138,000 to resurface and reconstruct the walking path around the park off the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Main Street. The borough will have to contribute 15% of the cost of the project if approved, Bove said.

“I think we can get the project within the allocation,” Bove told council recently.

If approved, the work could be done in 2021, he said.

The project has been in the works for the past few years, but the borough was unable to get an application approved for any financial assistance. The borough is in a better position to get the funding now because all of Irwin now qualifies as a low-and-moderate-income community, based on a recent data, Bove said.

Councilwoman Leslie Savage asked whether the project will address the flooding that occurs along the path, in a section near the stream, a tributary of Brush Creek.

To remedy the problem that occurs when heavy rains lay on that flat section of the park, Bove said a section of the path may need to be elevated and a drail pipe installed underneath.

In 2015, Irwin applied for a $187,500 state Greenways, Trails and Recreation Grant to pay for park improvements. The grant would have required a 20% match from the borough, had it been approved.

When Irwin wanted to reconstruct the walking path about two years ago and pave the park’s adjoining parking lot, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rejected its application. The borough would have had to pay 50% of the project cost in order to get the Conservation and Natural Resources grant, Bove said.

Councilman Michael Yunn, who heads the parks and recreation committee, questioned whether the borough could again seek money to pave the parking lot, which is deteriorating, but Bove said he was told by county officials it would be better just to apply for the money for the walking path.

Borough officials have discussed creating a splash park at Irwin Park as well as installing poles that would hold a screen for showing movies outdoors.

A new playground was built at the park in 2018.