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Parks & Recreation advances PROS plan and flags grant gaps for splash pad project
Summary
Parks & Recreation presented its final PROS plan draft, event schedule and a capital list; staff said a key splash pad grant application was denied and the contractor is booked, so timing and funding will be carried into 2026.
Keith Kuralski, director of Parks and Recreation, briefed the Public Works Committee on Sept. 9 about programming, a final parks, recreation and open-space (PROS) plan and 2026 capital priorities.
Kuralski said the final PROS plan has been circulated to the steering committee and will be reviewed by the recreation commission and the county planning commission (Act 247 referral and review). “Once they agree that, yes, this plan is as it says it's supposed to be and what we were granted the money for, it'll come back to the borough for adoption by resolution,” Kuralski said; he said he hoped the county process might return the plan in time for a November council meeting but acknowledged he was not sure of the schedule.
The PROS plan identifies six major moves that will guide capital programming and maintenance priorities, including improving interconnections between parks and promoting non-vehicular access between parks and downtown. Kuralski said the plan's recommendations will inform capital spending and grant applications.
On capital, Kuralski said the borough did not receive a $30,000 People, Parks, and Community Foundation grant for the John O'Green splash pad; he said the contractor who did previous phases and who the borough would prefer for continuity is fully booked through the fall. Kuralski said the borough has $85,000 budgeted for part of that work and intends to carry funds and pursue other funding sources into 2026. He noted the recent Hoops Park racquet-center rehabilitation cost about $250,000, with $237,000 covered by grants.
Why it matters: The PROS plan sets a multi-year capital and programmatic framework that will guide where borough staff and grant applications target limited resources; the denial of a key splash-pad grant and contractor availability mean schedule and funding for a high-profile park project will shift into 2026.
Next steps: Kuralski said the steering committee and recreation commission will finalize reviews, the plan will be submitted to county reviewers for referral, and Parks & Recreation will bring more detailed capital materials to the committee in October and a fuller presentation in October or November.
