Father Marinaro Park, the city’s only skate park. Butler Eagle File Photo

Butler City Council members announced during their meeting on Thursday evening, Oct. 10, that they have secured funds for their portion of a $100,000 grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for sweeping improvements to Father Marinaro Park, located on Short Street in Butler.

“We had a grant from the state, and it was a matching grant,” said city council member and parks director Daniel Herr. “They were giving us $100,000, and we had to come up with a matching $100,000, so it’s basically gonna be a $200,000 project. We finally got the funds on our end secured, so now it’s a matter of just submitting the final plans.”

Part of the money from the city’s portion of funding comes from leftover Community Development Block Grant money, as well as private donations.

The planned improvements for Father Marinaro Park include modifications to the softball field, repaving the basketball court and building a new shelter, among other upgrades.

Other improvements were made to the park’s parking lot last year to add additional ADA parking. This was taken care of with funds from the Community Development Block Grant/CARES Act program, which the city applied for in 2022.

Ralph Pincek is worried about maintenance at the Father Marinaro Park. Here he holds a paper showing the planned budget cuts for city parks next year. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Ralph Pincek, who lives just two doors away from the park on Lincoln Avenue, thinks the park upgrades couldn’t come soon enough. He’s complained to the city and the Butler Eagle for years about the state of the park and has even spent some of his own money to make improvements, despite being retired and not working for the city or the park in any capacity.

Ralph Pincek would like to see the rusty swing chains at Father Marinaro Park replaced. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Specific complaints made by Pincek include poor lighting at night and the poor condition of the sidewalk. Pincek accused the city of redirecting funds toward Butler Memorial Park when they would have been better spent at Father Marinaro Park.

Ralph Pincek, who lives across the street from Father Marinaro Park, said he has tried numerous times to get the park authorities to fix the railing at the skate park. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

“There’s a guy across the street who’s on a motorized wheelchair,” Pincek said. “He almost lost it in a dip. There’s a dip in the sidewalk. So I called and said, ‘Hey, can't you get some hot patch to fix the sidewalk? What’s it going to take, half a yard?’ This never happened.”