Donora to consider park plans

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora is getting closer to having a park at the intersection of Seventh Street and McKean Avenue.
The park will sit on a couple parcels of land that the borough cleared by demolishing dilapidated structures. The project won about $120,000 in Local Share Account grant money, which comes from gaming revenues generated by the Meadows Racetrack.
Initially, the plan for the land was to have a space for pavilions and room for a farmers market. The market and pavilion are still part of the plan, but the concept designs show a greater use for the space.
There are three concepts borough council has to choose from, and they all come with a different price tag and different amenities.
One drawing shows a plan for one large pavilion, seating 150 people, that would run parallel to McKean Avenue. It would be surrounded by a concrete space with some seating areas with tables and chairs. It would also slope the grassy area that will run parallel to Linden Way in such a manner that it could be used for hillside amphitheater seating.
There would be a restroom building and several trees planted throughout the plot of land. This concept is the least expensive and comes in at an estimated cost of $826,000.
The benefits to this plan, in addition to the cost, include a chance to get the work started before the end of this year. Phase one of this plan will involve site preparation, sidewalks, a pavilion and electrical work. The first phase will be paid for by about $365,000 in LSA money. The grant requires construction of the pavilion as that is what the grant was awarded to do.

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