Munhall council weighs fencing grant for Westfield, rental request and concessions plan

Staff told council a party is requesting $70,000 to rent Westfield space; the council discussed whether that request and proposed uses are appropriate given prior arrangements (the site previously received $6 million for renovation and a long-term use agreement with the school district was referenced).

The council also discussed applying for a Greenways & Trails recreation grant to replace aging fencing at Westfield. Staff said the grant program opens in February and could fund permanent fences and related improvements; staff estimated permanent repairs would be substantially more than the borough’s current reserves and that movable fencing or partial replacement might be an interim solution.

To generate ongoing revenue for field upkeep, staff proposed soliciting proposals for a concessionaire to operate Westfield concessions and share revenue with the borough (packet example: "Happy Hippie Hot Dogs"). Council members asked staff to publicly advertise for multiple proposals, and raised standard concerns about liability, insurance and licensing for vendors.

What happens next: Staff will verify grant eligibility and any constraints tied to previous funding (Campbell Foundation and other grants were discussed) and return with cost estimates, bid language for concession services, and any contract restrictions relevant to school use.

Note on board restrictions: Council mentioned that past renovation funding included a clause restricting charging school teams for field use, which affects possible revenue models; staff will check the original Campbell Foundation agreement and report back.