March for Parks will again include 'pop-up' bike shop at Murrysville march
Last year, March for Parks organizers decided to host a “pop-up used bike shop” to supplement fundraising for the Turtle Creek Extension of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail.
More than 50 bikes were donated and the shop raised more than $1,600. Naturally, march officials want to try it again this year.
“It was a great success,” said Betsy Aiken, a member of the Murrysville Trail Alliance (MTA) and the Westmoreland County Citizens Advisory Board of Directors. “MTA members cleaned up the bikes, assessed their condition before they put them out and priced them.”
This year’s March for Parks is set for March 30 and will take place at two locations: along the Turtle Creek Extension of the trail in Murrysville and at Twin Lakes Park’s lower lake in Hempfield.
As in the past, individuals and teams can register at the county’s March for Parks website, and donations can be designated for one of several parks-related projects:
• Renovations and updates to Mammoth Park and Mammoth Lake in Mt. Pleasant Township.
• The next phase of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, connecting Murrysville and Export.
• Updates and additions to Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver.
• A new pavilion area with accessible playground facilities and new restrooms at Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township.
• Land acquisition.
• Minor improvements at all parks.
• Wherever it is most needed.
Donations for this year’s bike shop are down a little from last year, according to Aiken. Proceeds from the sale will be earmarked for the new phase of the trail.
“We’re working to encourage donations,” she said.
Donors can bring bicycles to the Westmoreland County parks office, 194 Donohoe Road in Hempfield from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; the Murrysville Christian Concern thrift shop, 5756 Kennedy Ave. in Export — call 724-325-1559 for hours; or Pro Bike+Run, 4030 William Penn Highway in Monroeville — call 412-229-8473 for hours.
Aiken was happy to discover the thrift shop — which has been closed since February — re-opened March 13.
“I hope a lot of people will be coming to make donations,” she said.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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