Municipal Park Construction to Begin in September

Construction on Upper St. Clair's Municipal Park is scheduled to begin in September 2012, according to Gary Schafer, Upper St. Clair's forestry administrator.

The Parks and Recreation Board is choosing to use their $25,000 budget for 2011 and 2012—a total of $50,000—to makeover the park because of its location and . The playground is located behind the basketball courts along McLaughlin Run Road and next to the .

Along with that will be purchased and installed, the park will get new swings; a climbing rock; a new tot structure designed for children ages two to five; a new water fountain; and new basketball standards.

The crew will also be reconfiguring the sidewalks around the park, according to Schafer.

It is still unknown what will be used as the playground's surface. The board and Schafer would like to install some sort of rubberized surface instead of the current woodchips. The board will revisit the issue when there is a better idea of how much money is available.

Community and Recreation Center Update

membership cards were swiped a total of 280,000 times in 2011, according to Paul Besterman, director of recreation and leisure services.

Divide that by 365 days and that is equal to 767 card swipes a day.

"When you think about where we came from, it's thrilling," Besterman said.

He said the number does not include people who entered the building for parties, basketball games, community meetings or other special events. He conservatively estimates another 25,000 to 50,000 people entered the building in 2011.

Besterman said there are well over 9,000 memberships. About 71 percent of the members are Upper St. Clair residents.

Besterman also told the Parks and Recreation Board that swimsuit dryers are being added to the locker rooms.

Boyce Mayview Park Improvements

There are plans for the Upper St. Clair Public Works crew to upgrade the parking area by the Boyce Mayview gardens at the intersection of Boyce and Morton Roads.

Additionally, two limestone signs will be added to the perimeter of the Boyce Mayview trail, along with with four new directional signs. A new kiosk will also be installed near the gardens.

Schafer said the improvements will be seen in the next few months.

Gilfillan Park Improvements

Schafer is investigating ways to expand the trail at . He said public works will be replacing the rotting Gilfillan Trail wood sign and adding new benches in the near future.