Nearly $400,000 in Johnstown playground upgrades previewed at meeting

Randy Griffith, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

Nov. 10—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A handful of interested residents learned about nearly $400,000 in planned upgrades and rehabilitation of three Johnstown playgrounds during a public meeting on Thursday in the city's Kernville section.

The playgrounds in question are at Somerset Street Park in Kernville, Forest Avenue Park in Moxham, and Sandyvale Memorial Gardens & Conservancy in Hornerstown, Johnstown Recreation Director Tony Penna Jr. told the group.

The project shows the city's commitment to improving neighborhoods and improving the quality of life, Penna said.

"We want to take care of our residents, but we also want to attract more people to come to the city to live," Penna said during the public meeting at Christ Centered Community Church, 531 Somerset St.

Somerset Street Park, located near the Dibert Street intersection, will get a new playground structure, wood-fiber mulch, paved walkway, benches and overall rehabilitation, according to the $391,300 contract that Johnstown City Council awarded in September to Apollo-based Sports and Recreation Associates, LLC.

At Forest Avenue Park, near Village Street, work will include two new playground structures, playground equipment, wood-fiber mulch, a new swingset, benches, a chain-link fence with gates, and planting of grass and trees. There will also be demolition and removal of the existing wooden park structures, wooden fences, wooden swingset and tables, asphalt basketball court and poles, and a section of chain link fence.

Sandyvale Memorial Gardens & Conservancy, located off Hickory Street in the Hornerstown neighborhood, will get playground exercise equipment, footers, mulch and overall rehabilitation. Penna said the complete project will be similar to exercise trails in other communities.

City Councilwoman Marie Mock said the three playgrounds are just the first three in the city's effort to improve all of its playgrounds.

"This is just the first meeting we are going to have with neighborhood groups," Mock said. "We'll have neighborhood meetings for every project."

There have already been some meetings with Minersville residents, she added.

The scope of the projects will vary.

"Some of the playgrounds just need a little tweaking," Mock said.

Meanwhile, Penna announced the new surface at the Roxbury Park skating rink has been installed and is available for use.

"Kids are on there all the time," Mock said.