Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – The City of Warren Parks and Recreation Committee greenlighted several recreation projects, which will now go before Warren City Council.
City Manager Nancy Freenock explained on Tuesday that through a grant program, the state of Pennsylvania is distributing $100 million in gaming revenue dollars earmarked for recreation projects.
Applications must be for singular projects and can range anywhere from $25,000-$1 million.
Freenock proposed three projects – a ‘dry up’ of Mulberry Park and installing new playground equipment, an all-weather building at Betts Park, and a Miracle League field at Lacy Park designed for children with special needs.
Commission member Kris Whitaker threw full support behind the Mulberry Park project.
“I’m that resident, and our back yard is suffering from water that is laying at Mulberry. I would love to see it (dry up).”
Added Director of Public Works Mike Holtz: “The hope would be to put in a good-sized French drain and drain the water into the storm sewer from Mulberry to Frank St.”
Also, the commission approved a motion to recommend pickleball courts be placed on a grass location at Betts Park near the bocce courts, a project that was declined by the city council last year.
Kim Mong and Doug James reiterated that they plan to go before the council with the idea again, but that they are also seeking their own fundraising for the project.
“There wasn’t any opposition to the concept,” said Commission chair Mike Suppa. “There was some interest in more information as to where it was going to go and how it would affect other events going on down there. We reached out to Betts folks that this is in the air and they were OK with it.”
A Warren Pickleball Club has already been formed.
