Forward is readying Gallatin-Sunnyside Park for the township's fourth annual Community Days on Saturday and Sundayfrom 1-10 p.m. each day.
Parking for the handicapped is available at the park near the Route 136 bridge into Monongahela.
“We will have a 40-foot boat dock in this year,” Community Days chairperson Sue Skrinjorich said.
It's not the only change at the park, which has been getting an overhaul paid for in large part by a gaming-fueled $200,000 Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Grant from 2014, facilitated by state Sen. James R. Brewster.
“Thanks, Jim, we really appreciate it,” township supervisor Dave Magiske wrote in his Forward newsletter. “The improvements include paving the park road; electrical upgrades, including five light poles; a new pavilion and a paved walking trail.”
The pavilion will be named for Brewster during the weekend festivities.
Magiske said 90 percent of the improvements are done, but permanent light poles won't be installed until Monday, though temporary lights will be used during Community Days.
“We will have the only lighted walking trail in the Mon Valley,” Magiske said.
The township's three volunteer fire departments will participate.
“Gallatin-Sunnyside VFD will sell pop, water and pizza,” Magiske noted in the newsletter. “Bunola VFD will work some booths and Forward Township VFD will sell beer.”
Music will be provided by disc jockey Daddy G from WLSW-103.9 and by the Mon Valley Cloggers from 1-2 p.m. and impersonator Frankie Capri from 2-3 p.m. both days.
Shady Mugs will perform Saturday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Dallas Marks from 7:30-10 p.m. .
Hawg Wild will perform Sunday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Boogey Hustlers from 7:30-10 p.m. .
Early birds on Sunday can catch an 11 a.m. car cruise.
“We have a lot of activities that are free for the kids,” Skrinjorich said.
Those will be a petting zoo, slide, train and hay rides, a bounce house and a magician.
Face painting, jewelry making and a car smash are planned, and free blood pressure screenings will be provided all weekend by the Jefferson Hills Area Ambulance Association.
“We have the paramedics on hand for any medical emergency that may occur,” Skrinjorich said.
Magiske said the weekend will be capped with a 24-minute fireworks show Sunday around 9:30 p.m.
Magiske said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald was invited to make some remarks prior to the fireworks. Magiske said the county executive likely will talk about the Pangburn Hollow Road repaving project and accompanying Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water line upgrade scheduled this fall.
For more details or directions to the park, call 412-251-6878.
Patrick Cloonan is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161 ext. 1967,
