NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
30 June 2003

REHAB OF VERNON STREET PLAYGROUND DEDICATED BY MAYOR

Harrisburg, PA—One of Harrisburg’s most popular neighborhood parks returned to service today as Mayor Stephen R. Reed conducted dedication services for the newly-restored Vernon Street Playground at S. 15th and Vernon Streets in the city’s Allison Hill.

Mayor Reed said the $161,375.80 rehab project is now completed and the site is now officially open to the public. The project included the removal of all wornout play apparatus, and the installation of new equipment, including Power Space and Prime Time play systems, swingsets, spring toys, climbers and a youth practice field, complete with goals and fencing. New sidewalks, park benches, walkways, landscaping and ground cover are also slated for installation as part of the project.

The Mayor noted that this is the second complete rehabilitation of the playground during the current era, with all of the city’s playgrounds having already undergone refurbishment at some point during the past 15 years. Heavy usage of the city’s parks facilities has created the need for another round of refurbishment and upgrades, with today’s dedication the first of many more to come.

The Mayor said the General Contractor for the work was Lobar Associates and design work was provided by H. Edward Black and Associates. The heavy-duty Gametime Inc playground equipment was provided by Bitting Recreation Inc. Tina Manoogian-King, Director of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, was project manager. Funding for the rehab effort at the Vernon Street Playground was provided by the city, the Harrisburg Parks Partnership, and a $97,615.00 grant from the federal Urban Parks and Recreation Revitalization (UPARR) program.

XXX