SR park 'founding father' honored
SLIPPERY ROCK — Dedication is a word that has two definitions, and both were celebrated Tuesday night at the Slippery Rock Community Park.
Park friends and neighbors joined around a street sign for its dedication.
The road at the crest of the park's hill was named “Manning Way,” honoring Richard “Dick” Manning for his work establishing the park.
“It's humbling,” Manning said. “It's the only word I can think of.”
Manning, who dedicated many years to the park, thanked a crowd full of friends he has made through his work there.
He said it may say Manning on the sign, but he knew that every person in the crowd has had some involvement in the evolution of the park.
“There's a saying that it takes a village to raise a child,” Manning said. “Well, it takes a community to build a park.”
Kathy Manning, Dick's wife, said her husband had been working with the park before they were married, and her daughter benefited from the programs held there.
She said Dick's priority always has been to give children and adults something to do in the park and to do so for affordable rates.
“He's done an amazing amount of work for this community,” she said. “I was flattered and proud because he deserves it,” she said.Mary Messer, director of Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation, worked with Dick Manning for about six years. She said she was part time then, and she learned a lot about leading the park from his dedication.“Dick is an outstanding person,” she said.Also speaking at the dedication was Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo, who addressed Manning directly with words of praise.“I'm very proud to support this measure and continue your work,” said Longo, who serves on the park's board of directors as a borough representative.Many other local government officials made an appearance for the unveiling, including from the borough, the township and the school district, all three of which comprise the board of directors for the parks.
“He's kind of like the founding father of this park,” said Mark Taylor, who serves on the boards for both Slippery Rock Area School District and parks and recreation.Taylor said his children have used the fields for their various teams. He said his children grew up knowing and learning from sports because they had fields to play on.“It goes a long way to building character for kids,” he said.Paul Cessar, the school district's business manager and president of the parks and recreation board, said not only was Manning instrumental in establishing the fields, but he also started other programs that have continued throughout the years, such as dancing and skiing, among others.“There's a lot more than just fields,” Cessar said. “He started it, and Mary Messer has done a good job of keeping it running.”
