BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) – Taylor Memorial Park Revitalization is underway, but it might take a while before all phases are completed.
A proposal map for the revitalization of Taylor Memorial Park. Design by HRG.
The plan showed step-by-step improvements on the park, ranging from the playground area called Kids’ Kingdom and then expanding to the area around Varischetti Field, the pool, the trail, and the Little Toby Creek. Kids’ Kingdom’s renovations are slated to be done in time for summer playground trips. After that, the project moves to a new dek hockey area and basketball courts.
“You will see that plan is ambitious and so is the price tag,” Peter Varischetti said, explaining that the project will cost over $5 million. “But no tax dollars will be used in funding the project.”
Varischetti is repeating a promise he made almost a year ago when he first introduced the revitalization plan to the community. Tuesday’s meeting was to present the plan now that the engineers have had a chance to look over the recommendations made by the community.
Peter Varischetti explains the $5 million plan.
“That’s why it’s broken down into more manageable pieces,” James Feath, an engineer with HRG Inc., said. “The five different phases allow the community to implement the plan in a logical, effective, and financially feasible way.”
The later phases bring in a looping trail that circumnavigates the park and uses the levy system along the Little Toby Creek. The creek will even have overlooks so residents can enjoy the waterfront. In addition, the project is proposing creating an area called Brockway Landing that makes it easier to get down to the fishing area by the Main Street Bridge. There will also be a new athletic complex that brings in a full-sized dek hockey area and three new basketball courts that are also lined for volleyball. The existing courts will become parking.
Parking and pedestrian access is a major focus in later phases. 7th Avenue will be reimagined with new lighting, parking, and sidewalks. Feath said the goal is to make 7th less like it cuts through the park and more like a piece of the park.
The amphitheater will get a little work as well, with the area around the American Legion Stage becoming the Community Green, complete with new seating and throughways.
The proposed seating at the American Legion Stage.
“There are a lot of factors that will determine how long this takes,” Feath said. “It could be a five-year plan. It could be a 10-year plan. Certainly, Kids’ Kingdom was one of the low-hanging fruit that made sense to do quickly, but there are a lot of items in this proposal that will take some time to think through the details.”
Varischetti warned residents that the phases may see some fluctuation based on what happens as the plan moves forward.
“Like life, this this will not go 100% according to plan,” he said. “Things happen. But we have had a lot of help and support from the community.”
More information about the project is available on the Frank Varischetti Foundation website.
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