NEW CASTLE Public hearing to focus on playground plan

The city hopes to sell the land in a few months.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City residents will get a chance to tell officials what they think of a plan to move a city playground.
A public hearing is set for 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in city council chambers concerning the Laurel Avenue playground and plans to develop the land.
A developer approached city council two years ago about buying the 17-acre parcel to build condominiums.
City officials liked the idea, but later learned that playground was built with state and federal funds that required it not be developed. It can be sold only if a comparable piece of property were found and a new playground built.
City Administrator John DiMuccio said that at Tuesday's meeting the city will outline the conversion plan to move the playground and tennis courts to Park Avenue, near Mercer Street.
DiMuccio said it's unlikely that city council will have to vote on the proposal which it approved two years ago, but they did learn from state and federal officials that another public hearing and a property appraisal were needed before the land swap could be considered.
Comments to be sent on
Comments from the hearing will be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and to the National Park Service.
DiMuccio said they are hoping they can sell the Laurel Avenue property in the next few months and start work on the new playground.
He said they haven't recently talked to the developer who proposed building the condominiums two years ago, but the city will to try to develop the land even if he is not interested.
"We are still hoping to have that property developed for a taxable reason," he said. The land, owned and maintained by the city, brings the city no tax revenue.