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Residents urge park upgrades; council denies Healing the Planet tree-grant application over maintenance concerns
Summary
Multiple residents and volunteers supported playground and tree canopy improvements at Fairmount Park; Council debated a Healing the Planet grant offering 120 native trees and ultimately denied the grant over maintenance and placement concerns.
Residents urged the Borough to pursue playground upgrades and more shade at Fairmount Park. Multiple speakers, including Mike Chrzanowski and Aleksa Keithan, suggested pursuing grants and community partnerships for new equipment, benches and shade trees. Chrzanowski volunteered to research grant opportunities and donors; Keithan recommended planting canopy trees near playground areas if a tree grant proceeds.
Council later debated the Healing the Planet Grant, which would provide 120 native trees at no direct cost to the Borough. Public Works and Council members raised concerns about long-term maintenance, planting locations (avoid retention ponds) and who would remove dead trees. Citing those issues, Mark Holloway moved to deny the grant and the motion carried with Hiester and Greer opposing. Council agreed the idea had community support but concluded more detailed planning and maintenance commitments would be needed before accepting donated trees.
