Monongahela recreation board plans moving forward

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Plans by Monongahela residents to form a recreation board continue to move forward.
Earlier this week, 10 residents joined together by conference call to discuss the possibilities of organizing such a board, and the group plans to meet again next week and is looking for even more people to join them.
“It was an organizational meeting just to get everyone on the same page,” Laura Magone, who is spearheading the effort, said. “I’m trying to provide introductions and explain who’s who and bring everybody up to speed.”
The push to form a rec board in the city started two weeks ago when Councilman Rusty Polonoli announced construction work, including removing the tennis courts, had begun at Mounds Park. The park’s playground equipment will be moved to where the tennis courts once stood.
Magone, president of the Monongahela Area Historical Society, and other residents said they were surprised and saddened to see the construction at the park, and claimed council didn’t properly alert the public about the project.
“Everybody felt there should have been special meetings just for this,” Magone said.
According to Magone, among those who participated in the organizational meeting were local tennis coaches and professional tennis instructors.
“There was unanimous consent there needs to be a master plan for the whole town and there needs to be tennis courts,” Magone said. “There’s such a history of tennis playing in Monongahela.”
Magone also said the group is willing to form either as an independent entity or under the authority of city council as a board with bylaws and approved members.
But Councilman Ken Kulak said if the group wants to make any changes to the city’s parks, it will have to be as a board under the authority of council.
“It’s city property, and anything has to be done by city council,” he said.
Kulak has advocated a rec board for the past few months, and said he’s open to discussions with residents about forming a board.
“I would encourage them to reach out to us for a meeting,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some of them at our upcoming work session and voting meeting.”
Magone said residents interested in joining the group’s next meeting can contact her directly.
“They can let us know they’re interested because we want residents to be involved and express their opinions,” she said. “The residents have not been engaged. This is not about criticizing city officials. This is about being a partnership between them and residents.”
To contact Laura Magone, call 412-327-1129.