Fairview Borough Community Park in the past few years has experienced a complete transformation through county secured grants. The baseball field was also recently remodeled and resurfaced.

Butler County's northeast region is predominantly rural and is home to few public parks, but the communities with parks strive to make them not just playgrounds, but gathering places for everyone.

The Fairview Borough Community Park in the past few years has experienced a complete transformation through county secured grants, according to Fairview Mayor Zachary Pyle.

"When I grew up, it had a lot of older park amenities: separate swings and the metal slide. It was fun, but a little dangerous. Now it has the one-piece playground system with the swings and slides all together," Pyle said.

"The park has been brought up to code and provides a great place for the young people in town."

Pyle said that the baseball field associated with the park also was recently remodeled and resurfaced for high school teams who play there.

Chicora, too, recently upgraded its facilities.

"A few years ago, we got a grant to upgrade the equipment in the park and the play area. It's not a big area, but it does get used quite a bit," said borough council President George Brothers.

The park also includes covered shelters and a paved area for basketball."A lot of people will reserve shelters during the summer, and the social event of the year, the Firemen's Gun Raffle in September, is held there. It's the main fundraiser for the department," Brothers said.Although most of the northeast region's rural communities do not have public parks, municipal leaders aren't distraught."When most residents have 10 or 15 acres to work with, there really is no need for public parks," said Bryan McClaine, supervisor chairman in Venango Township.

Chicora used grant funds to upgrade equipment in its park and play area. The park shelters get good use in summer.