South Buffalo is getting its first public playground as the community seeks to transform RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park into a center for government, housing, recreation and more.
“We want to turn it into a community center,” said community leader Paul Bergad.
In 2022, South Buffalo moved its administrative building to the area. A 90-home complex is planned nearby, and the municipality plans to move the police station next to its offices in the coming years.
Currently, the park area consists only of a lawn behind the administration building.
At least a dozen volunteers are needed to set up a swing, slides and more. A set-up day is planned for September 7 at 167 Northpointe Blvd.
The park will be built in two phases.
The first phase is funded by a $70,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and $40,000 in donated services and cash from NEXTIER, Allegheny Mineral, Charlton Law, Bergad, Inc. and MECALL Services.
This will be largely completed on Sept. 7, according to township engineer Sally Conklin, and will open on a date to be determined once workers lay wood fiber mulch as a playground surface.
Conklin described phase two as a “ninja warrior course,” a type of obstacle course made popular by the reality show “American Ninja Warrior.” It will include familiar elements from the series, such as a warped wall and sloped steps.
“I’ll try,” Conklin said, laughing.
Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter who covers the Freeport Area and Kiski Area school districts and their communities. He also covers community affairs in Penn Hills. A Pittsburgh native, Troy joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. Reach him at [email protected].
