RAD funding hike sought for Renzie Park

McKeesport officials will ask for a record amount of funding during Wednesday's formal bid for the city's 2015 Allegheny Regional Asset District grant allotment.

Each year, operations and improvements at Renziehausen Park are supported by RAD funds generated by Allegheny County's 1 percent sales tax.

City officials are among representatives of local governments and arts organizations who will present their wish lists to the RAD board through Sept. 10.

At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, city administrator Matt Gergely and recreation director Jim Brown will ask for a 5 percent increase in Renzie Park's operating budget, bringing the request from $652,800 in 2014 to $685,440 in 2015.

Their capital request is a more significant jump from the $100,000 and $80,000 allotments given in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The city is asking for a more than 400 percent increase in those funds. Their wish list includes $479,850 worth of potential improvements to sports, social and entertainment facilities in the park.

“We understand we're not going to get all of that, but we want RAD to know how committed we are to improving every aspect of Renziehausen Park,” Gergely said. “Being a young administration, we are looking ahead to increasing the activities and opportunities in the park. We plan to invest in this park for years to come.”

Mayor Michael Cherepko said his administration and the city as a whole are appreciative of RAD's commitment to McKeesport.

“Their generous contributions to our operating and capital budgets for Renziehausen Park allow us to market this location as a genuine asset to the Mon Valley,” Cherepko said. “People from all over the region come to our park for recreation and entertainment, and we couldn't provide that without RAD's support.”

Ideas for 2015 are built on the trends and improvements taking place in Renzie in 2014.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Highmark installing a state-of-the-art dek hockey rink near the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion, one item on the city's wish list is lighting for that facility.

“Lighting will allow us to utilize this court day and night,” Gergely said. “It's going to be a fantastic venue for players of all ages and skill levels in youth and adult leagues.”

At Renzie's nearby tennis courts, there is hope to resurface each of the playing spaces, which are used by community and school groups.

The city is seeking funds to enhance the Sulfur Springs and Heatherington youth ball fields on the other side of the park with an improved concession stand. The plan is to add restrooms.

Brown highlighted athletic improvements in 2014, including the privately funded dek hockey rink along with the RAD-funded completion of Jimmy Long Field upgrades over two grant years and improvements to basketball courts behind McKeesport Fire Department's Renzie Station in coming weeks.

He said opportunities for sporting activities are growing. He noted the park has been used for two consecutive years for bicycle races, and paving is part of the 2014 budget.

“We are trying new things that will continue to bring people into Renzie Park, not only from McKeesport but from surrounding areas,” Brown said. “There's so much going on right now, and we want to make the park more appealing to people with different interests.”

The city hopes to make improvements to the Jacob Woll Pavilion, also called Renzie's Main Pavilion.

The building houses city functions, including the Festival of Trees and children's parties for Halloween and Easter, and is available for public rental. It features a kitchen and two program rooms.

“We want to turn it into a more functional social hall with a comfortable environment that can be utilized in all seasons,” Gergely said, explaining the goal is to install a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and make aesthetic improvements.

City officials want to improve large-scale social gatherings in the park by improving parking conditions near the Lions Bandshell.

“We've had great success with our concerts in the park over the past few years and our movie nights, which were new this year,” Gergely said. “We want to make this site more accessible for all, especially in a way that decreases walking distance for our seniors.”

If approved, im-provements would include Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking areas.

The most costly proposal is to transform the park's former wading pool, which became too costly to operate because of water recirculation issues, into a “spray ground” similar to the water play area in Round Hill Park.

“It's not feasible to upgrade the wading pool as it is today,” Gergely said. “It would be nice to give McKeesport kids a place they can cool off on hot summer days without leaving the city.”

Jennifer R. Vertullo is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1956, or jvertullo@tribweb.com.