Big plans for Murrysville Community Park also could mean the municipality will spend about $500,000 to install sanitary sewer service there.

Murrysville officials have various items on the drawing board for the park, along Wiestertown Road, including installation of a dog park, a ball field for children with disabilities and a field to hold the annual community day celebration.

But first, council must decide on a plan to bring sewerage to the park's bathrooms.

Chief administrator Jim Morrison said there were three plans under consideration.

The first would cost about $485,000 and involve installing a drip irrigation system, but it seems to be the option officials favor least.

Council also is considering installing a series of holding tanks at the comfort stations that would cost about $455,000 and could be put in place quickly.

"[They] can be installed this year and be done in such a way that connection to a main sewer line at a future date can be easily accomplished," said Councilman Theo van de Venne.

"The first-time cost of the holding tanks option is less than half of the sewer line extension, but of course, the annual operating costs are higher."

Murrysville also is considering installing a sanitary sewer line. That proposal could take about 18 months to complete and would cost about $560,000.

It also would require Murrysvielle to obtain easements from three property owners.

Mr. Morrison said the engineering department would pursue the latter two options and give more information to council at its meeting Wednesday.

Former council member Robert Brooks and his family had donated $100,000 toward construction of the dog park, to be called "Paws on the Run."

Mr. Morrison said some site work has been done, along with some tree planting and work on the parking area.

He said the dog park probably would not be usable until spring because 2 acres still need to be seeded. "It will be an area where people can bring their dogs and let them run loose," he said.

The dog park also will have a pavilion.

Plans also are under way for a "miracle field" for children with disabilities.

Mr. Morrison said the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club has taken the lead on that project and was raising money for it.

Murrysville Community Park is the newest and largest park in the municipality. It encompasses about 500 acres.

Mr. Morrison said workers were making improvements to the park's fields and would continue to do so throughout the summer. They also are in the process of installing electricity throughout the park.