Unity eyes playground upgrade, restarts rec programs supervised by Greensburg YMCA

Students at Greater Latrobe School District’s Mountain View Elementary and other children in Unity will benefit if the township lands a grant to update the school’s playground.

The township applied for a state grant that would cover 80% of the projected $167,000 cost, according to solicitor Gary Falatovich. He said a donation from the school’s Parent Teacher Organization would cover the remaining cost.

If the grant is awarded, the playground would be available to the public as well as for students, Falatovich said.

A similar project completed last year replaced wooden play apparatus at the township’s Charter Oak housing plan and opened that facility for public use through an agreement with the plan’s civic association.

Recent renovations at the Mountain View playground included cutting down some trees and installing a pit for playing Gaga ball, which is similar to dodge ball.

The completed playground project would update equipment dating from the late 1990s and would include components meant to help children’s physical development and to stimulate their senses of sight, hearing and touch, according to Kurt Thomas, the school district’s director of facilities, operations and planning.

All Greater Latrobe recreational playgrounds are available for community use until dusk, after school hours and when school is not in session, he said. Those using the playgrounds are asked to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and proper hygiene.

Other play areas in the township open for public use include those in the villages of Marguerite and Pleasant Unity and next to the township municipal building on Beatty County Road.

The supervisors this month provisionally renewed an agreement with the Greensburg YMCA for one year. Under the agreement, the Y would continue providing recreational programs for township residents, including an expansion of supervised playground offerings to include the Charter Oak site and possible addition of the Mountain View location.

Y officials are in the process of approving the renewal, according to interim CEO Suzanne Printz. The township will pay the Y $56,700 under the agreement.

Though organized programs haven’t begun at the playgrounds, Printz said the Y is “excited to see what we can do at those other sites. We’re looking to focus this year on what the needs are in the community.”

“We want to focus as much as we can on families, try some things the entire family can do,” said Shawn Rause, director of sports and wellness at the Y.

An outdoor day camp began last week at the municipal building grounds, with about 18 children participating, she said. The summer camp typically features Wiffle ball and a variety of other sports, including activities for younger children.

Groups will be kept small to allow social distancing, Rause said. Visit the Greensburg Y website at greensburgymca.org to register.

The Y on Wednesday will resume exercise programs for older residents, held at 10 a.m. three days a week in the supervisors’ meeting room at the municipal building. Pandemic-related social distancing and sanitizing requirements limit participation to eight people per session, so those planning to attend are asked to call the Y in advance, at 724-834-0150, for details.