Discussion about new parks, establishing a village square and the prospect of imposing impact fees on developers were the course du jour during a luncheon of the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, featuring presentations by government officials from Bridgeville, Collier, Heidelberg, Scott and South Fayette.

With U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, on hand, community and business leaders also took the opportunity to inquire about federal aid, particularly for the popular streetscape programs that pay for beautification of neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, Congressman Murphy said, the key word is popular -- of the 1,000 or so towns in his 18th District, he said 200 want streetscape grants.

To gain an upper hand on the field, he said municipalities ought to forge partnerships not only with one another but with local merchants. A good example, he said, was a bid he's already working on involving Carnegie, Heidelberg and Scott.

He is exploring sources of low-interest business loans to complement streetscape projects, though he made no promises.

"It's not just about 'Let's put up lights and sidewalks and flowers,'" he said. "We want this whole corridor to be seen as a vital area [and] you have to work with small businesses to do that sort of thing."

Officials in each town then gave a five-minute briefing about what's happening in their municipalities.

Lori Collins, of Bridgeville, said traffic relief was on the way with a new turn signal light at Station Street, one of several she expected to be in place in the crowded Route 50 corridor.

She also highlighted a face lift of McLaughlin Run Park, where new tennis and basketball courts and a skateboard park have been well-received. And there's more to come, she said, since those upgrades were part of only the first phase, funded by a $200,000 matching state grant.

"The community has absolutely loved it," she said, particularly since "it was in such disarray for a long time."

In Collier, manager Jeanne Creese said efforts continue to tackle the difficult issue of encouraging sustainable but also controllable growth.

A new traffic study, she said, will explore the possibility of residential development that ups the ante for builders by tying approval to impact fees. These would help support the infrastructure improvements that housing developments require, she said, and help relieve pressure on surrounding communities.

"It's always a focus of mine to be aware that our growth puts a burden on the communities that are not growing around us," she said.

In Scott, Manager Denise Fitzgerald welcomed the new Lowes Home Improvement Center, one of whose representatives was in attendance, as well as Providence Point retirement community and a new Walgreens.

As in other nearby towns, Scott plans park updates. An amphitheater in Scott Park is in the works, plus efforts to use a 26-acre tract of township land to link the abutting Scott Conservancy grounds with Scott Park through a necklace of walking trails.

Ms. Fitzgerald said the amphitheater would be the first in the area, "so we're really excited about putting that in possibly next year."

Heidelberg Manager Joe Kauer also got on the parks bandwagon, telling the crowd that an old scrap yard off Industry Way was becoming a park with a picnic pavilion.

Last in line only because of a last-minute scheduling change was South Fayette engineer David Gardner. He brought schematics showing Newbury Market and Newbury Ridge, the ambitious town center project off Route 50 that combines a village of homes with shops and plenty of green space. He said the project could be ready by late 2009.

"This could really be the hub of South Fayette," he said, particularly since there's not much of a town center now.

While various chamber members had questions for the town leaders, the speaker that drew the most interest was a Bridgeville policeman.

Not just any policeman, mind you, but K9 officer Jim Lancia and his bipartisan, four-legged partner, Addo.

"As he sits here you're looking at $15,000 dollars worth of dog," Officer Lancia said, as he advised the crowd of Addo's superior return of investment in sniffing out contraband drugs.

"That sounds like a lot of money," he said, "but he's paid for himself so many times over, it isn't even funny."

Interest about Addo ranged from his availability on street patrols -- he's done plenty since starting his beat in the fall of 2006 -- to his use at schools, which he also has visited on occasion.

How to stay on Addo's good side? Officer Lancia offered a hint.

"If this gentleman would get up and attack me," he said, pointing to someone sitting across from Congressman Murphy, "Addo would attack, even without my command."

Addo has the intellect of a 3-year-old child, Officer Lancia said, which is saying quite a lot. "He can distinguish between you coming up and giving me a hug," he said, "and you punching me in the face."

"He's super intelligent, smarter than some people I have to deal with."