Riverside Park in Oakmont could be getting a new look after approval to apply for a grant to fund Phase I of the park's master plan.

Recreation board member Tom Bland said the master plan is the "evolution of several years of slow but careful movement to find a way to put a fresh face on the park and breathe new life into the facilities."

In studying the area, he said it quickly became apparent that the park along the Allegheny River is the primary recreational space in Oakmont.

About two years ago, a $20,000 needs analysis of the park was funded equally by the borough and school district. The result was a list of needs for the park, and it was decided to pursue a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The advice of the agency was to seek a grant for a full-fledged plan, Mr. Bland said, adding that DCNR wanted a "vision" for the park.

The $40,000 cost of the master plan was covered by an in-kind grant, with the additional funds provided by the borough. The study was performed by Environmental Planning and Design of Pittsburgh.

Last fall, a group met with the goal of coming up with a layout for the park that best represented the needs and wishes of the public, Mr. Bland said. Many things were considered, he explained, from a highly sports-oriented layout to making minor changes in the existing park.

Three focus group sessions were held and a community survey was performed. The survey involved a random sampling of 30 percent of the population.

The results were tabulated and a plan was developed. It included a large number of items as well as several large issues such as the field house, synthetic track, field lighting and trails/pedestrian lighting.

The park, which the borough owns, has been maintained well, but has not advanced, Mr. Bland explained. No major work had been done in the area in years.

A project was completed recently involving a new cyclone fence and decorative fencing for the Third Street entrance, as well as new concrete for the entrance. This was done before the master plan, Mr. Bland said, in part to spur public interest in the project.

If every aspect of the master plan were to be implemented, the cost would be $4 million plus. To manage a project of this size, the plan has been segmented into functional phases. Phase I involves the lower part, which sits below the existing field house and runs to the river.

Proposed changes in this area include converting the four-lane cinder track into a four-lane synthetic track; providing pedestrian lighting; developing a trail system with handicapped access; constructing a promenade or bump-out area at the river's edge; replacing the old playground; and redesigning/refurbishing the pavilions.

Mr. Bland said the current playground is not up to par safety-wise. It was thought that this was a good time to get something new and vibrant in place that would meet today's standards, he explained.

The group looking at the park determined that it is used primarily in the summer, spring and fall, in that order, and almost never in the winter.

One change may be made to accommodate winter: a plan to flood the redone tennis court and track area to allow for ice skating. Mr. Bland said the price is not exorbitant and just requires adding curbing around the courts and track. The area would be flooded and allowed to freeze naturally.

The cost of Phase I is estimated at $675,000. Mr. Bland said the borough and school district have made funding commitments. Should a grant for the project be received from DCNR, the borough has pledged $305,000 and the district has agreed to provide $100,000. The recreation board is requesting a grant of $270,000.

Mr. Bland said the grant submission is due in the next week or two, and there will only be one round of grant requests.

If approved, the grant would be awarded in September, and work would begin in 2011.

Should the grant not come through, Mr. Bland still sees the plan moving forward.

"Those of us involved would continue to search for other ways to make it happen."

Once Phase I is completed, the next phase would address the upper part of the park.

The plan may be viewed, and comments may be submitted, at oakmontborough.com.

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