Seven Fields community ‘complex’ to see renovations, pickleball
Seven Fields is transforming its community center, Town Park Pool and Municipal Park into a community “complex” with recent renovations and the planned addition of a pickleball court.
“We want that whole complex to be the focal point of the community, and definitely aesthetically pleasing, to residents and visitors alike,” borough manager Tom Smith said.
To that end, the borough council this week approved seeking a grant for the second phase of its Town Park Pool renovation project.
“The (county) commissioners opened up this grant program for municipalities, and we wanted to take advantage of it to help defray the cost of making those upgrades,” Smith said.
The Butler County Park Renovation and Development Program grant, through the county’s parks and recreation committee, would require a 25% match for up to $10,000, according to Smith.
“We’ve gotten a few in the past,” Smith said of the grants. “The commissioners helped us with the fall safety material at the playground, they helped us with a feasibility study for the community pool. They’ve always been very, very cooperative on these types of community projects.”
Improvements to the pool are being made to match the borough’s recently upgraded community center. The second phase includes renovations to outside restrooms, concessions, a new fence and eight decorative pillars, according to Smith.
“The borough earmarked $100,000 for these upgrades,” Smith said. “But, obviously, anytime we can get a grant or outside funding to help defray the cost, that’s a positive.”
Renovations are expected to complete for the opening of the 2023 pool season, Smith said.
“They started working within the last four to six weeks, and they’ve made some progress,” Smith said. “We’ve got to be ready for Memorial Day weekend.”
In an effort to further develop the complex, Smith said the township is in the process of introducing pickleball courts for the borough.
“This was a discussion by the council and some of the residents,” Smith said. “We’ve looked at pickleball courts — whether we’re buying a portable for one of our basketball courts.”
According to Smith, the borough has earmarked approximately $150,000 for the project, which is planned to go behind the community center.
“But we want to make sure we do this right in the location, because we’ve had some concerns about noise,” Smith said. “You know how loud the paddles are.”
Council, he said, is looking into a sound barrier for the court.
“It’s still in the planning phase at this time,” Smith said. “We’re going to come up with some more design work with the engineer and pricing out some of the additional amenities that they were looking at.”
