NEW BEDFORD, PA. Lions Club proposes park

A $5,000 state grant will pay for initial legal costs and a survey of the land.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW BEDFORD, Pa. -- Founding members of the New Bedford Lions Club had a vision to create a recreation spot for all of Pulaski Township to enjoy.
Now, 50 years later, that vision is becoming a reality.
Michael Mancuso, club president, is spearheading a project to put about five acres owned by the group into a trust and have it designated a public park. The property is off Evergreen Road, about a half-mile from U.S. Route 422.
"We're talking about creating a play area for kids and maybe a walking trail. We do have a section of property that is wooded and wraps around a lake," he said.
Initial talks about the public park took place last month in a community meeting. A second community meeting is planned for 7 p.m. April 11 in the Lions Club building, also off Evergreen Road.
"We're taking baby steps at this time. The first meeting was really the Lions reaching out to see if there is an interest in doing this," Mancuso added.
Definite interest: About 30 people showed up, representing area churches and garden clubs.
State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th, was also there and helped secured a $5,000 state grant to pay for initial park costs.
"They need [the park]. It's a great residential area and the more recreation opportunities there are for kids, the more good people are going to move in there," LaGrotta said.
Mancuso said the grant will pay for a survey of the land and legal costs.
Plans call for the Lions Club to deed the property into a trust and a newly created commission to oversee it, Mancuso said. The commission is to consist of a Lions Club member, a township business person, a church leader, a township citizen and possibly a township supervisor.
Supervisor Dan Ambramson said supervisors will discuss the matter at their April 11 meeting and decide if they will participate.
Preliminary ideas: Initial plans call for the park commission to oversee the maintenance and use of the park, which is now taken care of by Lions Club members who take turns cutting the grass, Mancuso said.
Club members never fully opened the land to the public after it was bought in 1948 because of liability issues. But now club officials believe a park commission would have access to a less expensive insurance policy and more state and federal funding.
Mancuso said this most recent effort to make the land a public park grew out of a chance meeting between Mancuso and founding member Leroy Harry a few years ago.
Harry, who died soon after, told Mancuso about the club's original plans and showed him pictures of the property when it was first bought.
"That [talk] stuck with me and when it came my time to be president, I said we need to look at why this club was formed and what we can do for the community," Mancuso said.