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Highland resident asks Erie County to help finish Morrison Park amid funding gap
Summary
A resident urged the county to fill a roughly $50,000 gap to complete a playground and ADA improvements at Morrison Park on Westlake Road; the speaker said DCNR committed $60,000 and the community has raised nearly $10,000 toward a $120,000 project.
Marcus, a local resident, told the Erie County board during public comment that a small park at the corner of 30th Street and Westlake Road in the Highland borough needs county help to complete renovations.
"To do the park the right way, we're looking at a $120,000," Marcus said, adding that the Morrison family had raised "nearly $10,000" and that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) had confirmed $60,000 in support. He said those amounts left "a gap" — roughly $50,000 — and that the borough's original request to the county had been for $60,000. Marcus emphasized the project would include new playground equipment, ADA accessibility improvements and a small covered picnic shelter.
Marcus said the borough faces high combined tax rates and limited capacity to fund the project locally. "If we could have done this ourselves, it would have been done," he said, asking the board to consider county assistance.
The board took the request under advisement during the public comment period; no formal pledge or vote on county funding for the park was recorded in the meeting excerpt.
County context: Marcus said the borough planned to apply for an ECCO parks-and-trails grant (about $25,000) before the end of the month and that grant awards could reduce the county contribution needed. He also noted the DCNR award and community donations but did not provide a finalized county request amount. The matter was entered into the public record so staff and commissioners can follow up as part of budget and capital discussions.
