Butler County commissioners award $81,000 in local park renovation grants
Butler County commissioners awarded $81,030 in local park renovation grants to a dozen municipalities for various projects.
The grants were announced at a Wednesday, April 8, board of commissioners meeting. The grants cover up to $10,000 toward the cost of a renovation project, but most of the grants are $7,500.
- The most expensive project is at Bruin Borough Community Park, where buying and installing new playground equipment will cost $104,753. The borough is paying $97,253 and the county grant is $7,500.
- Next is a $49,910 parking lot paving project in Chicora. The borough is paying $42,410 and the county grant is $7,500.
- In Evans City, the purchase and installation of an electric sign to replace an existing sign will cost $37,775. The borough is paying $30,275 and the county grant is $7,500.
- Petrolia received a $7,500 grant toward an $18,250 project to resurface a basketball court, buy and install new posts and backboards, install a walkway linking an existing path to the pickleball courts and to add new fall surfacing for the play area. The borough is paying $10,750.
- Adams Township was awarded $7,500 and is paying $3,175 for a $10,675 project to purchase and install automated external defibrillator enclosures.
- Harmony was awarded $7,500 and is contributing $2,652 toward a $10,152 project to resurface a hiking trail with 250 tons of limestone, and buy a new picnic table and adult swing at the Old School House.
- Connoquenessing was awarded $7,500 and is contributing $2,500 toward a $10,000 project to buy and install additional fencing for a pickleball court, basketball hoops for the basketball court, and bollards for the basketball court.
- Cranberry Township received $7,500 and is contributing $2,500 toward a $10,000 project to buy and install amenities for a new outdoor fitness area in Graham Park.
- Marion Township was awarded $7,500 and is contributing $2,500 for a $10,000 project to install a concrete cornhole game, sidewalk access to the cornhole game, a new sign for Marion Township Community Park and 20 parking curb stops.
- Penn Township was awarded $7,500 and is contributing $2,500 for a $10,000 project to buy and install disc golf baskets and posts, and locks to secure the baskets to expand the nine-basket disc golf course to an 18-basket course.
- Clay Township received a $3,616.50 grant and is contributing $1,205.50 toward buying 150 yards of engineered wood fiber for the fall surface at a playground for $4,822.
- Saxonburg was awarded $2,414.22 and is contributing $804.75 toward a $3,218.97 project to buy and install a concrete slab in front of a new restroom, a sign and automatic restroom door locks at Roebling Park.
Money for the grants comes from the county budget general fund, and is indirectly linked to Act 13 impact fees the state receives from natural gas drillers and distributes to counties and municipalities.
The county uses Act 13 legacy funds designated for parks and trails as matches for state grants from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, freeing up money in the general fund for the park grants, said Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman.
In addition, the commissioners approved an agreement with Pyrotechnico Fireworks to put on a fireworks display July 1 during the Butler Area Community Day at Alameda Park. Butler Township is paying the $18,000 cost of the display.
In other business, commissioners approved a $240,000 proposal from Gateway Engineers to design the 911 building and parking lot expansion.
The project includes two new pre-engineered metal buildings — an 80-by-150-foot building for emergency vehicle and equipment storage and an 80-by-60-foot building for vehicle parking and washing, storage, offices and meeting spaces.
Commissioners also approved a price quote from CivicPlus to make the county website compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act at a cost of $45,479 and an annual cost of $49,889, which is subject to a 4% annual increase.
Jim Venturini, information technology director, said the goal is to make the website and documents from the website readable for blind people using tools they have by the April 24 deadline set by the federal government.
