YOUNGSTOWN Swapping property to create playground

The park board is considering major renovations to the North Side pool.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city and a South Side church are renewing talk about swapping property to create a new playground.
The aging city-owned Ken-Oak playground, at Oak Hill and Kenmore avenues, would become a parking lot for St. Patrick Church. The city then would erect a new playground across the street on land the church would turn over to the city.
Three years ago, the city park board endorsed a similar proposal. Since then, the church has persuaded seven of 11 owners of land across Kenmore from the church to sell, said the Rev. Edward P. Noga.
Father Noga told the park board Tuesday that the church expects to secure the other four properties soon. The church also is close to buying three dilapidated neighboring houses, he said.
The church would raze those houses and turn over all the land to the city. That would mean space for the playground and a community garden, he said.
St. Patrick, Summit Academy and the nearby Needles Eye Christian Counseling Services need the parking, Father Noga said.
Summit Academy, a charter school next to the church, doesn't use the old playground because it is across busy Oak Hill Avenue, he said. Pupils would use the new playground since they would have to cross only Kenmore, he said.
The city, meanwhile, has been planning to rehabilitate the playground, said Joseph McRae, parks director.
Father Noga said he will return to the park board when the church acquires all the land needed for the swap.
North Side pool
Park board members also talked about major renovations to the North Side pool on Belmont Avenue.
ES & amp;C International, a Youngstown consulting firm, outlined three possible renovation projects at the pool. Each project would include new piping, lights and the resurfacing of the parking lot.
The main differences are the scope of work on the pool:
UA $155,000 project would resurface the pool with 6 inches of concrete and last five to eight years, engineers said.
UA $240,000 project would resurface the pool with a heavy-duty rubber liner and last 10 to 12 years.
UA $500,000 project would replace the entire pool using concrete and last in excess of 20 years.
Also, water slides could be added for $59,000 to $171,000.
The parks department has about $100,000 set aside for the pool, McRae said. He will talk with city council about how much other money might be available.
John Evan, president of ES & amp;C, suggested the city consider awarding naming rights. The proceeds could pay to renovate the pool, he said.
Evan also suggested the city consider approaching neighboring Liberty to collaborate on the renovation. Township residents could use the pool in return.
Parks officials said they would explore both possibilities.
rgsmith@vindy.com