North Strabane to terminate YMCA agreement
Part of the walking path at North Strabane Municipal Park
A view of North Strabane Municipal Park
Spanning 80 acres, North Strabane Township Municipal Park boasts an artificial turf football field, tennis courts, baseball fields, a soccer field, pavilions, playgrounds and concession stands.
Construction of the $8.1 million park was made possible in 2012, because, as host community to The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, North Strabane annually receives a share of gaming revenue.
But the bustling facility, home to events like community day and 5K runs, has not had a full-time director since the position was vacated in March 2014 by Greg Sulc, who resigned while under investigation for improper use of his township cellphone and computer. Since that time, responsibilities of the park have been shouldered by other township employees and through the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
Township officials entered into the $28,000 agreement for 2015, with the YMCA providing services like concession stand staffing and summer day camps.
“We really felt (the YMCA) could fill a void in certain areas,” said township manager Frank Siffrinn.
Though the YMCA has “done what they needed to do,” Siffrinn said the board of supervisors is expected to terminate the agreement at its Tuesday meeting in order to consider other options, including hiring a full-time director.
“(Supervisors) are interested in looking at the possibility of hiring somebody,” he said.
Despite the termination, Siffrinn said there is still a possibility of a new YMCA facility in the township.
“It’s still very much alive and well,” Siffrinn said. “The Y is still looking at North Strabane Township as a location.”
According to a recorded message, Bill Jones, YMCA vice president who worked on the project in 2011, is out of this office this week. Calls to other YMCA representatives were not returned.
In 2011, when Sulc was chairman of the board of supervisors, he expressed a desire to bring such a facility to the township, either at the park or on nearby Lindley Road. A feasibility study was done, in which households were surveyed on what type of recreational facilities they would like.
“A marketing study was done with phenomenal results,” Siffrinn said.
He said in addition to the YMCA agreement, the board will discuss conducting a study to determine the township’s future needs, including a new municipal building. Siffrinn said the township has outgrown the current structure, built in 1977.
“We are bursting at the seams,” he said.