Jake Rape, of Zelienople, hits a blunt stall trick at the top of a ramp at the Zelienople Memorial Skate Park. Zelienople Borough Council on Monday forgave about $9,500 of a $16,109 loan used to finish the Zelienople Memorial Skate Park. Butler Eagle File Photo

As Zelienople’s local government takes the day-to-day control of the borough’s parks, the borough extended its gratitude for the Community Park Board’s decades of volunteer work.

“Even though now the borough is taking over the responsibilities, the people who have been here in the past should be celebrated because they've worked so hard to make the park what it is,” said borough manager Don Pepe.

The borough established a parks and recreation department in January, which now manages the day-to-day operations of Zelienople’s parks and pool. Before, the borough was responsible for infrastructure maintenance, while the park board managed the recreation facilities’ daily happenings.

Pepe said the board was comprised fully of volunteers. For roughly 80 years, Pepe said, the board has had a number of involved community members, from all walks of life, who shared a common interest and passion in the Zelienople parks.

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