Sewickley officials plan to make one of their parks more pedestrian friendly.

War Memorial Park’s old wooden bridges may be removed this summer and replaced with steel ones.

The 20-acre park’s walking trail, including the access point from the woods by the Sewickley Valley YMCA parking lot along Blackburn Road, will be resurfaced and made more Americans with Disabilities Act accessible.

“There will be a cleared entrance from the north end of their parking lot that would take them through the park,” borough engineer Mike Galet said Feb. 11. “Right now, it’s a safety precaution. A lot of people that walk to the park don’t use that entrance because it’s not accessible.”

The resurfacing would include either compacted gravel or pavement. Plans have not been finalized.

The wooden bridges carry the park across a stream. One of the bridges is just a few hundred feet from a playground.

“The bridges are at the end of their surface life,” Galet said. “They are getting pretty old. I wouldn’t say they are a danger yet, but they are at the point where you want to start looking to replace them.

“They are made of older materials. That wood over time is just going to continue to degrade. It’s good now, but you want something more long-term. If you’re going to do trail improvements, you’re going to want to fix those now rather than tear it up later.”

Council voted 8-0 Feb. 11 to authorize applying for a state rehabilitation and development program grant of more than $290,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Councilman Tom Rostek was absent. There may be a 25% to 50% borough match required depending on what is awarded.

“The War Memorial improvements are intended to make the park more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists,” council President Cynthia Mullins said. “Council continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to refurbishing our parks.”

Estimated total project costs were not available Feb. 11.

Council had applied for state grant last year and did not get it.

Other park news

Phase two of a stream restoration at War Memorial Park is out for bid. Galet said the borough plans to accept and review bids next month.

A contract is expected to be awarded in the spring with work starting in the summer.

Estimated cost is $200,000 to improve the upper portion of the stream bank.

Phase one in the lower section of the park was completed in 2023 at about the same cost.

The restoration is being paid for through borough funds.

In other business

Council approved a slew of requests for various upcoming events, as well as set dates for a pair of popular community activities.

All event requests were subject to costs and final detail approvals by the police chief and borough manager.

• Division Street, from Lula’s to Martin’s, including Hegner Way, will be closed from noon to 10 p.m. March 22 for the Sons of Italy’s March birthday celebration.

• The Knights of Columbus will host a community Easter Egg hunt at War Memorial Park playground from 8:30-11:30 a.m. April 12.

• Thorn, Broad, Grant, Beaver and Chestnut streets will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon May 26 for the Memorial Day parade.

• Chestnut Street, from Thorn to Beaver streets, will be closed for the Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 5K Fun Run 8 a.m. to noon July 20.

• Beaver Street, from Broad to Walnut Street, Walnut from Beaver to Thorn streets, and Henger Way will be closed for Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Night Mart from 3-9 p.m. June 27, July 25 and Aug. 29.

• Thorn Street, by the borough building from Walnut Street to Beaver Street, and to Chestnut Street in front of Cochran Hose Company, will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 for the Rotary Club of Quaker Valley’s Halloween Parade.

• Locust Street near Beaver Street will be partially closed for a tent for Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Wine Walk from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 5.

• Grant Street to Beaver Street, Beaver Street to Chestnut Street, and Thorn Street ending at the fire station, will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 6 for the Rotary Club of Quaker Valley’s Santa Parade.

• Beaver Street, from Broad to Division streets, will be closed from 4-9 p.m. July 15 for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Sewickley Stampede and Round Up.

• Sewickley Light Up Night will take place Dec. 5.

• Sewickley trick-or-treat is set for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

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