EASTON, Pa. — Easton Area School District is closing in on finalizing a contract that will help revitalize the basketball courts at a West Ward park with city assistance.
The project also could spruce up some green space for city residents.
During an School Board meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Josh Ziatyk said an agreement between the city and district regarding Vanderveer Park should be ready for board approval by the Sept. 24 meeting.
Ziatyk said officials from the city, including primary proponent and Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone, introduced the idea for the district to provide $30,000 to improve the park’s basketball courts, with the city covering work and construction costs.
Discussions between the city and district solicitors is wrapping up, Ziatyk said, and an agreement dictating expectations, guidelines and commitments to the agreement should be ready shortly.
“I would say within the next week or so that a final version will come out, and then that final version will be on our board agenda in two weeks for approval,” Ziatyk said.
A 'win-win' situation
According to the superintendent, the agreement is a “win-win situation,” as the district has discussed for quite some time beautifying the park with limited resources.
“So the opportunity to make that improvement is only going to benefit our kids and community," Ziatyk said. "And then the city is also going to be working on making improvements to the green space in that park as well."
Funding for the project will be drawn from the Foundation for Easton Schools, a privately funded charity that “seeks to develop, promote and finance innovative programs not supported by school tax dollars.”
Board members also briefly discussed sprucing up a walking path, or even establish a fitness area, at the Paxinosa green space, providing the community with more outdoor amenities.
That project could be a more practical approach to providing the community with a safe walking path that is financially viable for the district.
The school board had appeared concerned with estimated costs linked to a proposal to open Cottingham Stadium once a week for walkers.
'A terrific resource for residents'
Over the summer, the board shot down the Cottingham idea, with Ziatyk pointing out that average costs for hiring an officer to patrol the property once a week for a few hours could cost $1,500 to $1,800 a month, for up to nine months per year.
At Paxinosa, the district would have “something to start with,” Ziatyk said, and the board appeared to support the idea.
“I think what we're ultimately looking for are recreational amenities for residents of the city, particularly of the West Ward," Board President Meg Sayago said.
"We've acknowledged in the past that the school district owns one of the largest green spaces in conjunction with the city in Vanderveer Park and Paxinosa.
“We want to try to make the most of that for the public. So the idea with Cottingham was a walking area; it wasn't to utilize the turf field necessarily for the public.
"So if we can look to create that same opportunity utilizing more of the campus, I think that's going to be a terrific resource for the residents of the West Ward.”
Funding for Paxinosa could be drawn from the sale of Lachenour Park in 2021, Ziatyk confirmed, though the matter likely will take time before it is officially introduced with proper expense estimates and voted upon.
“I appreciate them looking at an alternative way, because the bottom line is, the people in the West Ward need green space, the adults and the children."Frank Pintabone
Upon hearing the news, Pintabone said thanked the board for engaging in the Vanderveer project and for looking into other ways to provide open spaces to residents in the West Ward, such as improving Paxinosa.
“I appreciate them looking at an alternative way, because the bottom line is, the people in the West Ward need green space, the adults and the children,” Pintabone said.
“I applaud the school district, and I appreciate the school district listening to the concerns that I brought, because my concerns are the concerns of West Ward residents, and we’re trying to find a way to take care of them.”
