North Belle Vernon park dedicated
A crowd gathers to explore and enjoy the new park in North Belle Vernon.
From left to right are North Belle Vernon fire Chief John Garber, NBV Councilman Mark Frederick, Geoff DeWitt, Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas, NBV Mayor Craig Ambrose, Sen. Pat Stefano, R.J. Sokol and North Belle Vernon Council President Brett Berish.
R.J. Sokol and his team pose after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Steeltown Raceway RC Car track
Boy Scout Troop 1543 of Belle Vernon presents the colors for the parade as part of the North Belle Vernon park dedication.
Senator Pat Stefano greets paradegoers.
The Martinettes Senior Twirling Corps of Belle Vernon demonstrate twirling skills for the crowd.
Falcon Gymnastics greets paradegoers with a smile.
BVA soccer players show their team spirit during the parade to the North Belle Vernon Park dedication.
Lydia Coffee, 2, of Belle Vernon, tests out the rock climbing section on the playground.
Larry Callaway, left, and Jake Posey of Belle Vernon play a game of cornhole.
BVA soccer players test the new field.
Players for Falcons Youth Dek Hockey test the new rink.
R.J. Sokol with his team cutting the ribbon for the opening ceremony of the North Belle Vernon Park dedication.
People from all over the Mon Valley gathered Sunday to celebrate the opening of the North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park.
The once run-down facility became a safe place for the community to gather, the culmination of a park revitalization concept brought to North Belle Vernon Council by R.J. Sokol in 2014.
The event kicked off with a parade organized by North Belle Vernon Fire Department, featuring Mon Valley police departments, fire departments and various businesses and organizations. The event included music from the Soundwaves DJ services, as well as live entertainment from the band Branded and exhibitions from the Belle Vernon Area School District cheerleaders and Little Dragons Karate School. A free photo booth and child photo I.D. services were also available to the public. Attendees were also asked to sign their name on the ribbon after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Everybody from the community stepped in to be a part of this thing,” North Belle Vernon Councilman R.J. Sokol said.
Sokol said the park has been closed for three years but through the effort of the volunteers and the community, it is now open to the public. He said the project cost roughly $400,000 and they still plan to put in bleachers, clean up the hillside and gather more materials for the remote-controlled car track.
“The recipe for this park was the community coming together,” Sokol said. He also said North Belle Vernon Councilman Mark Frederick used his skills to put the park together.
Sokol said the grand opening had a great turnout.
“Everyone showed up,” Sokol said. Sokol was joined at the event by his wife, Lynn Sokol.
“It’s going to hopefully bring more people in from other communities,” she said. She also said she hopes by seeing this park made possible it will inspire other communities to do the same.
Frederick said they could not have done all of this without R.J. Sokol, saying he got the funding for this project and, without it, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything.
“I like seeing these kids play. I hope they keep coming back,” Frederick said.
Vaughan Leer, project manager and senior engineer for the park project, said they had to get creative with the project in order to get it done with the funding they had. Leer also said the volunteers were a large part of the project’s success.
“I think it’s going to be a valuable asset to the community,” Leer said.
Gina C. Lynn, director of Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce, said she attended the park as a child.
“With such fond memories, being able to give back to the next generation is a good feeling,” Lynn said.
State Sen. Pat Stefano, R-32nd District, said Sokol has a great team behind him.
“I’m so pleased to see so many people in the park today,” Stefano said. Stefano said it is great to see an idea come together. “I will use this as a poster park across the district.”
North Belle Vernon Mayor Craig Ambrose said Sokol put his idea into action. “He went out and got the funding and here we stand today three years later,” Ambrose said. Ambrose said it is important to dream big and that they may get the next Olympic gold medalist out of the park. “I think it’s a great asset to the whole Mon Valley.”
Lizzette Sterner, Community Bank Monessen branch manager, said this park will provide a great and safe place for children in the community to play. Sterner said Community Bank has been on board with the project since the beginning when she learned about Sokol’s plans to renovate. “This is a park for everybody,” Sterner said.
With the soccer field, dek hockey court and RC car park sponsored by Steeltown Hobby, the venue will provide a variety of recreational opportunities for the community and surrounding areas. Belle Vernon School Board President Joe Grata said the boys and girls soccer teams will be using the park’s soccer field Monday through Friday. He said their special needs students have already visited the park and will be coming back for occasional field trips.
Grata said the students also volunteered at the park with the Senior Day of Caring and the Interact Club. “The students took part and, as a result, they have a vested interest and a personal interest,” Grata said. He said the park has a great variety of recreational opportunities that will help people rejuvenate the heart and soul as well as the body.
Willie McKeen, coach for the Falcons Youth Dek Hockey team, said they primarily practice at Bill’s but may try to utilize the dek hockey court at the park as well. He said this dek hockey court will give people a chance to “come and try” dek hockey. Neil Morris, director of operations for the Falcons, said the kids seem to like the court and it is important to get them out there to have fun. “It’s helping to grow the sport around here.”
The park will be hosting events throughout the year. Upcoming events include:
• PIYO exercise class beginning Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m.; cost is $5
• Scarecrow Festival – Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.
• Movie in the Park – Oct. 29 beginning after trick or treat
• Light Up Night – Nov. 18 (tentative)
Visit facebook.com/nbvpark or www.nbvpark.com for more information.