North Huntingdon officials hear pros, cons for multipurpose field at Oak Hollow Park

North Huntingdon officials might decide this week whether to proceed with plans for a multipurpose field with a walking track, bleachers, baseball field, a concession stand and more parking at the township’s Oak Hollow Park — a proposal supported and panned by residents.

The commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday whether to have the preliminary design and engineering work done for a project at the 127-acre park off Morris Avenue. The results of that work would provide estimated costs and designs that can be used when applying for grants for a project that could cost anywhere from $800,000 to $2.5 million, said Harry Faulk, township manager.

A multipurpose field would make the plans more attractive to grant-funding organizations, he added.

“The sky’s the limit. … It’s not a pipe dream. It’s been done everywhere else,” Faulk said.

The township’s consulting engineer, KU Resources Inc. of Duquesne, created a conceptual drawing showing a grass multipurpose field and a baseball field placed near the entrance to the park off Morris Avenue. The park has a soccer field and basketball courts, as well as an 18-hole disc golf course created over the past year. The downside to adding a baseball field, however, is that it would interfere with the disc golf course, Faulk said.

The proposal to create a multipurpose field at Oak Hollow Park evolved out of a discussion Faulk said he and Commissioner Jason Atwood had with members of Norwin Youth Football and Cheer over the summer. Faulk said he also met with Dan Miller, director of the township parks, to discuss the proposal.

Stan Gorski, a Norwin youth football coach and vice president of the organization that uses Norwin Knights Stadium for its games, could not be reached for comment.

In support of the proposal, Kristin Bavolek said she has children involved in sports, and “it is amazing to me how little we have for kids.

“Kids are not a priority, and it is very clear,” Bavolek said.

Diane Williams of Timothy Drive, which borders the park, questioned what other locations were considered, as well as the cost of maintenance for any of those facilities.

The increased traffic by teams using the field also will have an impact on walkers in the park, as well as wildlife, Williams said.

The sports proposal was supported by Amanda Huss, who said her son plays baseball. Neighboring Penn Township has sports fields at its municipal complex in Harrison City, Huss said.

Darlene Simpson questioned whether it is the best use of the township field. Simpson also voiced concerns about the increase in traffic along Morris Avenue and Timothy Drive, as well as the need to create more parking for those using the field.

Commissioner Richard Gray said he hesitated to move the proposal forward because of so many other issues facing the township, such as improvements to infrastructure.

While Commissioner Ronald Zona said he would not mind seeing a proposal for a multipurpose field, but “we have a lot more pressing issues.

“It seems like we are saturating this park with everything,” Zona said, adding that creating a football field might be “catering to one group.”

Atwood defended the proposal, saying close to 1,000 children participate in Norwin Youth Football and Cheer.

Commissioner Virginia Stump said she is in favor of spreading out the township’s recreational amenities to the neighborhood parks.

“We have forgotten about them,” Stump said.