One for all
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Regardless of whether they are a YMCA member or former Armco or AK Steel employee, anyone can visit and enjoy the 65-acre Armco Park and swimming pool, located about three miles north of the Old Stone House on Route 173.
John Gibson, the park's property manager, said that for reasons unknown, people have long believed that only those with a YMCA membership could use the park.
Then, when the name was changed recently from YMCA Camp/Armco Park back to Armco Park, folks were even more confused.
He explained that when AK Steel bought Armco Steel in 1999, it was not interested in the park, which was instituted in the early 1930s as a place where Armco employees and their families could enjoy recreation and camaraderie.
The Butler Armco Employees Association were told by AK that they would have to maintain the park if members were to use it.
AK then sold the park to a group of investors who bought the former Armco Country Club in Brady Township, now Oakview Golf Club.
The investors were also uninterested in the park, and again told the B.A.E.A. to be responsible for maintaining it if association members would use it.
“That almost bankrupted the B.A.E.A.,” Gibson said.
After a few years, the investors wanted to get rid of the park.
“That is when Dave Todd made the purchase, 14 years ago,” Gibson said.Todd is the former president of Armco's advanced materials division. He retired from the company in 1992.Todd donated the park to the Butler Family YMCA, and he and “Y” officials signed a covenant that the property would remain a park in perpetuity and always be owned and operated by the local YMCA. “Because it was a part of the Y and the B.A.E.A. was going to be involved, it was decided that the park would be open to the public,” Gibson said.But since that time, county and regional residents have assumed a YMCA or B.A.E.A. membership was needed to visit the park.“We've got a beautiful jewel of a facility up here that people don't take advantage of,” Gibson said.Visitors pay $5 to use the pool and splash pad, but YMCA and B.A.E.A. members can swim for free, he said.B.A.E.A. members can bring 10 people per day to the pool to swim for free as well.
Gibson said in addition to the new bath house and renovated pool, residents can enjoy the park's large playground, five updated shelters, charcoal grills, mile-long walking trail, catering kitchen with a small shelter attached, dance hall for weddings and other large events, Armco Hall with a renovated kitchen and a mini Armco museum, new restroom building with changing tables, and a canoe and kayak launch on Slippery Rock Creek.He said the shelters in the rolling, bucolic park can be rented for a small fee or visitors can use them for picnics if they're not reserved.Gibson enjoys seeing adults of a certain age return to the park where many of them grew up as the children of Armco Steel employees.“I was an Armco brat,” Gibson said. “My grandfather brought me here when I was 4 or 5 years old, and now I'm bringing my grandchildren up here.”Gibson retired 14 years ago from AK Steel. His father and siblings also worked at the mill, and he still has relatives who work there.In addition to his employment with the YMCA as Armco Park's property manager, Gibson volunteers at the park all summer.
“A lot of people felt they had to be a member of the Y to go to the park,” Todd said. “We struggle a little bit in getting the word out that it's open to the public. But, hopefully, we'll be able to continue getting the word out.”Gibson hopes to see more residents this summer enjoying all the scenic property has to offer.“It's a hidden gem within our community,” Gibson said. “To come up here and experience what has been here for more than 75 years, this little piece of heaven that was really just for Armco families for so many years, and now the Y has opened it up through the generosity of one person and everyone in the community can experience it.”The park is also used for Butler Family YMCA youth camps, and Gibson said about 125 children will attend Camp Keystone the first week of June at the park.The Armco Employees Veterans Picnic will be held July 11 at the park. Retired Armco employees who are also veterans can enjoy food and fellowship on that day.On Aug. 9, YMCA Olympic Day is set at the park. Gibson said young athletes from Butler and surrounding counties will compete in a mini Olympics during the event.On July 28, 500 to 600 members of the Catholic parishes in Butler can enjoy a parish picnic at Armco Park.The park also offers a plethora of programs for children during the summer, including Camp R.O.C.K. (Recreational Opportunities Connecting Kids).
Jill Zoria, Butler YMCA's director of marketing strategy and development, said youth on the autism spectrum attend Camp R.O.C.K. through a partnership with Slippery Rock University.“Students and faculty as well as some local high school students volunteer during that week,” she said. “The goal is transition skills for these kids for life after school and social skills in an authentic environment.”Zoria saw the park for the first time about a year ago when she moved to the area.“If people have never been to Armco Park, they will be overwhelmed,” she said. “It's surprisingly beautiful.”David Hilliard, the Butler Family YMCA CEO, said Armco Park is a hidden gem with a fascinating history.He is delighted when adults who spent their childhoods playing and swimming at the park as the children of Armco employees come back to relive cherished memories.He said the Armco memorabilia at the park was no coincidence.“The YMCA and Armco have strong ties and we wanted to continue that through the YMCA owning and operating the park,” Hilliard said.The park and pool open Saturday, and admission to the pool is free on Monday, Memorial Day.Beginning June 1, park hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and pool hours are noon to 7 p.m. Both are open seven days a week.More information on upcoming events, camps, shelter and hall rentals is available at https://armcopark.bcfymca.org.
