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The parklet at Third Street and Broadway Avenue is set to undergo a $70,000 makeover during the coming months.
The aging playground will be replaced by new apparatus, with the addition of a swing and a larger safety mat, according to Borough Engineer Doug Evans of NIRA Consulting Engineers.
Using grant funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), a $69,938 bid to complete the work has been awarded to Pete Jeffrey and Associates of Indianola, Pa.
The contract, approved by council June 15, also includes plans to install a wooden perimeter in place of the current metal fencing and construct an access ramp to the main Third Street Park situated several blocks down.
Evans said there was a small amount of funding leftover from the DCNR grant, which could be used for other general purposes.
In other June 15 news:
• McKees Rocks council voted to change the borough’s bank account provider from PNC to First National bank at the recommendation of the finance committee. President Archie Brinza said all members of council had received packets detailing the new account service and all indicated support for moving forward with the changeover.
• The borough will receive $612,000 in federal monies through the American Rescue Plan to be spent on pandemic-related expenses and a select range of infrastructure projects. According to Acting Manager LeeAnn Wozniak, the money will be paid out in two installments, with half expected imminently and the remainder due 12 months later.
• The owner of 823 Short St. — a portion of undeveloped land in a residential area — has approached the borough about donating the property to the borough, according to Brinza.
Council discussed possible plans for the site, including using it for residential parking and developing it into a community garden.