Jun 12, 2019 9 min read

1 / 6

East End Playground

2 / 6

Pool

3 / 6

Excavation

4 / 6

Swing

5 / 6

For Sale Flyer

6 / 6

Pickleball flyer

[expand]

close

By Terri Startare

A shout-out to Public Works

The summer season and Town Park is off to a fantastic start! The weather has been cooperating, and all the urgent work that seemed impossible has come to fruition just in time for all the wonderful activities our community enjoys this time of year. Public Works has been putting forth a huge effort to keep our pool and park in tip-top shape. As you may know, the pool has had a major leak that was taken care of before the Memorial Day opening; however, another leak was detected, and our Public Works department, as busy as they are, fixed the problem, allowing us to open again the last weekend in May. We are so thankful and grateful to have such a competent group working so hard to make sure our residents can continue to enjoy our Town Park Pool. If you see them in your travels around town, take the time to tell them thanks. They always are approached with requests for work, and it would be nice to show them how much they are appreciated.

Town Park has new logo

Big news: We have a new Canonsburg Town Park Logo! (insert photo below). We hope you love the design as much as we do. Evoking a vintage life preserver, the design is simple yet strong. The “CTP” is our Canonsburg Town Park acronym – we like that it rhymes! The color green is the perfect color for Park and Recreation – it’s the color of life, health, renewal, nature, and energy. And of course, it’s the predominant color in our park, so full of trees and open spaces. The year on the logo is 1923, which is when Town Park was established:

As the story goes… “In 1917, a group of private citizens bought an 18 acre parcel of ground on Crosby Run north of Pitt Street. They believed Canonsburg should have a municipal park, but council would not act. It took two years, but finally the borough bought the property from them for the price paid. Instead of a Park, the land was leased for use as a cow pasture. Over the next few years, prodding by the Daily Notes prevented the land from being sold. The first money put into the Park was in 1923. In 1931, Crosbie Drive was opened between Spruce and Pitt Streets, and the same year the Chartiers Valley Central Labor Union bought swings, see-saws, and sliding boards. Three wading pools were added in 1932, and two tennis courts were constructed in 1933. Construction of the swimming pool began in 1934, and opened July 4th 1935.” (Courtesy of “Canonsburg Reflections, 1802-2002)

We are already thinking about our “CTP centennial celebration” in 2023. What a party it will be!

We would like to thank the VFW for its generous contributions to our park throughout the years. They have always supported our efforts and have been helping not only us but other organizations in the community.

A new pavilion is coming

A new pavilion is coming to our park. The projected location is next to the Velma Jefferies Playground (location of the old tennis courts). This project has been funded by the generous grant from LSA (Local Share Account) as well as contributions from Canonsburg Borough, the Park Board and Friends of the Park, who all made this project possible. An engineer has been hired – Sarah with Mackin Engineering will be the our resource for this new shelter.

We would like to thank the LSA grant association for the funding. This award has made it possible for us to add another pavilion to our CTP, and it will be available to rent near the end of summer into the fall. It will be made of stone pillars and wooden/tin roof like the pool house. The new pavilion will have electricity, water and a restroom. Our community has been at maximum capacity with regard to the rental of pavilions, and this one will hold between 50-80 people, about half the size of the Yoney and Main pavilions. This will be a much needed addition, as we have lost two pavilions in the last few years, and the BPW pavilion is in need of repair.

East End Playground updates

WITH PIX OF PLAYGROUND AND SWING

Take a drive by the East End Playground if you get a chance: lots of new recreation equipment, new sand, and mulch have been added. We will be adding camera surveillance to this area. We will also be installing an ADA compliant swing for those with disabilities in the main park, and will add more should the need arise. Please contact us with any special needs requests, and if possible, we will try to make it happen.

Camp Splash in full swing

This summer, Camp Splash, at Canonsburg Town Park’s Main Pavilion, began on June 17 and will conclude on Friday, Aug. 2. Camp hours of operation are from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. We will be planning special visitors and activities for campers. We will be swimming every day, weather permitting, and providing a hot lunch and snack for all of our campers. If you have any questions, please call Leah Drain at 412-327-3993.

INSERT CONCERT FLYER PAGE

Sunday concert series

Our Sunday concerts are booked for the summer and we have a great lineup this year! This beloved community tradition is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Bring your chairs and cooler, and enjoy the talented bands and free entertainment. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m.:

July 14 – House of Soul Funky sound of 70s and 80s

Aug. 11 – Jackson Gardner, singer/songwriter, best of country rock

July dedication of pickleball courts

INSERT PICKLEBALL FLYER

The construction of three permanent Pickleball courts is underway. The asphalt surface and fencing are completed. Surface painting and installation of the permanent poles will be the next phase of the $60,000 project. The three new courts will be a great asset to the park, and we are in the process of revitalizing the area around the Passante/DeJohn pavilion. Check out the new retaining wall and electrical work recently underway. There will also be a path connecting the courts to the pavilion. We anticipate the project to be completed in early summer, followed by an opening ceremony in July. Three of six memorial benches have been placed overlooking the courts. The other three will be placed on a walkway entrance to the courts.

Wanted: young Pickleball players

Canonsburg Pickleball is sponsoring a Canon-McMillan tournament on Aug. 10. Students in grades 8-12 can sign up. Team up with a friend and join the fun. The tournament is free. We need eight to 10 teams of girls, boys and co-ed. Fill out the entry form today. Please visit Canonsburg.pickleball@gmail.com for more details.

Town Park Pool updates

Town Park Pool opened for our 84th summer season on Memorial Day weekend. The daily pass price has not been raised in several years to keep this community jewel accessible to all in this and surrounding communities. Passes are available at the pool or online: www.canonsburgboro.com/park-and-pool/.

Pool party or swim lesson reservations must be made in person at the pool with Adam Manion, Pool Director, who has all remaining dates available and pricing information. He can be reached by email at maniona@cmsd.k12.pa.us. Book early, as the calendar is filling up fast.

For the most up-to-date news at the Park/Pool, visit us on Facebook at “Canonsburg Park and Recreation.”

Swim lessons

Town Park Pool will again offer swimming lessons for children ages 2-13. The cost is $60 per child. There will be two sessions offered as follows:

Session 1, Monday, June 24, to Thursday, June 27, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.;

Session 2, Monday, July 15, to Thursday, July 18, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Softball signups

CMYGS (Canon Mac Youth Girl’s Softball) had a record year in softball signups. We are going to be starting a 15U program signup this fall, and again in the coming spring. We wanted to thank the community for their generous support and donations. Nelson Downey and Michele Stonemark were in charge of the banner fundraiser and sponsorships. These two have knocked it out of the park! Kim Highland did a phenomenal job in helping out with not only our concession stand and equipment management, but also serves as our secretary. Jessica Rainey, our concession stand manager, has done a wonderful, record breaking year in concession revenue. We are getting a new batting cage put in this year. The upper field has gotten a new drainage system that has enabled us to play when in the past the games would have been called due to rain-ruined fields. Jim Wendt took a lot of time out of his busy schedule to paint all the bleachers in the C-M blue and gold colors. Andy Shultz, besides being our treasurer, has been our communications liaison and kept this ball connected and rolling. A special thank you to all the coaches for keeping the fields clean and clear of debris, trash and taking care of our kids. If you have any questions, please contact JP Sanders at sandersjp4@gmail.com for more information.

Bench campaign

INSERT FLYER

CTP will be launching a bench replacement program throughout the park. This is open to everyone who wants to honor a loved one, memorial, or a family contribution. Please see our flyer for details or questions. Residents have been asking for years for this to be offered. Our picnic bench program sold out fast, so please get your order in soon, as they will be sold out quickly.

Grant application

Our grant-writing team has just applied for the GTRP Grant (Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program). This submission, if awarded, will be for the massive undertaking of replacing all walking paths throughout the entire park with ADA complaint concrete walkways. This project will include walking bridges, culverts, bio swells, and five ADA compliant, indestructible drinking fountains placed throughout the park. If successful, this $200,000 project will be matched in part by The Friends of the Park, Canonsburg Borough, and the Canonsburg Park Board. This grant is part of the DCED program.

We are looking to start a volunteer group to help us with gardening and clean up days two to three times a year. If interested, please message us on Facebook.

Dog park

We have many people who have expressed an interest in creating a dog park. We have several ideas and are looking to implement this project in the future. If you would like to be involved or volunteer, please contact us on our Facebook page.

Reach us on Facebook or mail correspondence to: Town Park Board, 68 E. Pike St., Canonsburg, PA 15317. For those needing GPS directions to the park: VFW 191 Drive, Canonsburg, PA, 15317.