Harrison Township and
Natrona Comes Together Association (NCTA) have received a $201,000 Community Development Block Grant from
Allegheny County to support the construction of the Natrona Neighborhood Recreational Facility.
A glass block bandstand, walking trail, basketball courts, and art walk will be built within a 43,200 square-foot park located on River Ave. in Natrona. “The park has been forgotten by time and underused for decades. We’re working with a blank canvas,” says Bill Godfrey, president of NCTA. “It’ll be a new town meeting center.”
The $800,000 project will also feature park shelter solar panels. “We’re trying to be as green as possible and recycle as much as we can,” says Godfrey, who is working with architects Frank McCurdy and Lisa Vavro, and with
Chatham University landscape architecture department.
“We want to draw people here and make it as multi-purpose as possible, to attract all ages,” says Godfrey, who has worked on community projects worldwide, and locally with the
Three Rivers Arts Festival and
Andy Warhol Museum. “It’ll be decorative and educational. We’re creating a history colonnade with plaques telling the story of our town. This area was the birthplace of
Alcoa and
PPG, so there’s a rich history. We're being so visionary, people are joining our team.”
Plans for the site also call for a community garden, horseshoe course and animal shaped benches. The project has also received $170,000 in state funding. Construction will begin during the spring of 2008.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Bill Godfrey, NCTA
Image courtesy of Allegheny County