Cranberry is getting an inclusive play area for children as part of the Cranberry Township Community Chest's 2016 Project of the Year.
Resurfacing the Miracle League ballfield at the Dick's Sporting Goods Sportsplex in Graham Park and adding a new playground with handicapped-accessible equipment will be the focus of two enhancements next year.
Mike Sherry, founder and president of the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, said they are “fortunate and very blessed” to be selected and said he believes the community will rally behind the project to help raise the necessary $600,000.
“I think there are a lot of worthy opportunities out there that the CTCC could choose and can choose. I also think that Cranberry Township continues to see the impact the Miracle League field has had in our region and also what an affect a playground would do for the quality of Graham Park.”
Bruce Mazzoni, Project of the Year chairman and CTCC board member, said when they choose projects, they look at what makes sense for the community, the potential for partnerships to raise funds and the need being fulfilled.
Graham Park doesn't have a playground and the baseball field, originally built in 2009, is susceptible to deterioration from exposure to weather and is in need of repairs. More than 80 municipalities participate in the Miracle League program that Sherry and his wife founded in 2007.
“We know the Miracle League is important, not only for Cranberry Township, but regionally,” Mazzoni said.
Mazzoni said the playground was designed in cooperation with the township, though there are still some questions about particular pieces of equipment. Final designs are expected in September.
Work will begin full-force in March or April once winter breaks, said Pete Geis, director of Cranberry Parks and Recreation.
The field surface will be replaced in July 2016 between the spring and fall seasons. At that point, the majority of the playground should also be under construction and ready for use by summer 2016.
Sherry said the playground isn't just a special needs project and will be available and accessible to anybody who comes to Graham Park. The playground will encompass the outfield fence and wrap its way around from right field to left field. It will be separated with hedges from the adjacent T-ball field toward the concession stand. The 26,000-square foot area gives enough space to connect with a surface that has no impediments.
“This is a playground that will benefit the entire community, and obviously visitors that come down to our park for various sporting events. This is a playground that will be designed for accessibility for all of our children,” Sherry said.
The field surface is expected to take about a week. Geis said the process involves adding a layer of new surface over top of the old one, so there will be no ripping up of the old surface. The field will be ready for the fall season in 2016 and should satisfy its need for the next 10 to 15 years.
Mazzoni said this is the sixth project, which was first introduced at Community Days earlier this month. Community Days is a celebration of the overall nonprofit and civic groups in the township. The annual event raises about $150,000. CTCC uses the proceeds it raises through on-site parking, the 5K and other means, to seed the next community project.
Mazzoni said they also plan to send mailers to Cranberry residents, and approach the businesses and certain foundations to raise money. They are also seeking neighborhood ambassadors to volunteer. Donations can be made to the CTCC or the Miracle League.
For the last project of the year — the volunteer firefighter initiative — CTCC met the goal of raising $400,000. Prior to that, the project was the fitness station in Graham Park.
Larissa Dudkiewicz is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
