MERCER COUNTY Groups propose new park in Farrell

Picnic facilities and flower beds are on the agenda.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- Veterans Square, a small area of grass and trees just across Spearman Avenue from the Farrell city building, could get a new lease as a recreation park.
The Farrell/Sharon Weed & amp; Seed Recreation Committee and the Farrell Recreation Committee are combining forces to propose a project to encourage public use of the green space.
Riley Smoot, chief of the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department, which is based in Farrell, outlined the plan for city council Monday, saying the groups want suggestions from city officials before completing the park design.
The park would still belong to the city and the project might require some city funding assistance, though planners are looking at state grants as the primary source of financing, Smoot said.
He offered no cost estimates, saying those numbers will be determined once the final version of the park is decided.
Proposal
The proposal calls for construction of a masonry and steel pavilion in the center of the park, concrete walkways, concrete bleachers built into the hill on the Spearman Avenue side of the park, 10 picnic tables, flower planters, and flower beds. The veterans memorial would also be revitalized.
There are plans to make public use of it during summer weekends. That could include showing movies on the side of a building adjacent to the park, Smoot said.
This is the first of four recreation projects Weed & amp; Seed is contemplating, he said, adding that the next will be a proposal to expand Veterans Square.
Mayor William Morocco said the project sounds like a positive part of the "seed" side of the weed and seed effort.
In other matters, council:
UPassed the first of two required readings of an ordinance requiring a city license to possess certain animals considered a danger to people. The animals on the list are in three basic groups, with the first listing poisonous snakes, frogs, spiders and other reptiles. The second covers big cats such as lynx and lions while the third deals with primates such as gorillas, monkeys and chimpanzees. Morocco said ownership of the animals can't be banned outright but the city can enact a law requiring that owners have a license and that provides some control. The ordinance was partially prompted by recent reports that a city resident had a crocodile, the mayor said.
UPassed the first of two required readings of an ordinance requiring people living in the Keifer Drive area who want to sell their property to first have their building downspouts tested to be sure they aren't draining into sanitary sewer lines.