Department of Recreation continued
Thousands of guests visited Murrysville Community Park during the
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall exhibit. Vietnam
Veterans provided personal stories and tours for our local school students,
while guests experienced displays of Vietnam memorabilia, POW/MIA
statistics, Agent Orange resources and Service Dogs for Veterans. More
than 100 volunteers worked to ensure an interactive experience for all
who visited. Thank you is not enough to everyone who contributed to this
important event.
Guests sampled and voted on more than 30 hot and mild chili
prepared by amateur cooks and local restaurants at the 10th annual
ChiliOktoberfest, held in conjunction with the Murrysville-Export Rotary.
Rivertowne beverages, hot dogs, the Old Friends Music Band, kids’
activities and more were enjoyed by hundreds of hungry guests. Cash
prizes were awarded to 1st and 2nd place in each category. This annual
event, which supports Rotary community programs, will be held
again in October; don’t miss it!
The holiday season began December 7 with Night
of Lights at Town Square and 1st United Methodist
Church. Santa, his elves and gingerbread men
visited with all of the good boys and girls. Inside,
the gingerbread house contest had 29 entries and
more votes than ever, which benefitted the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation. The Murrysville Historical
Society and St Nicholas decorated the church annex
with historical toys; guests listened to stories by the
Murrysville Children’s Library and saw puppet shows by
The Master’s Puppets. Thank you to our volunteers, local
businesses and organizations that made this fun event possible.
The local business community and many individuals are continually
supportive of our Department’s events and programs by providing
sponsorships to ensure their longevity and cost-effectiveness for
participants. Thank you just isn’t enough!
Field Use and Maintenance
Park sports fields continue to be in high demand for organized sports
organizations and general community use. FAMFA, FRAA, MASA, Boys
and Girls Lacrosse, numerous community sports teams and individual
enthusiasts alike utilize every sports field available during the months
of April-November. Fees collected for field use help to offset annual
maintenance costs.
Recreation Programs
Summer Recreation Programs remain popular, garnering more than
400 registrations for nine youth programs. Programs included: STEAM
Adventure Camp, Learn to Draw, Pioneer Camp, Fencing, Ready-Set-Run 5K
camp and Safety City. Sixty children registered for the Playground Program
and visited more than 300 times to five different parks over seven weeks.
Thirty six children spent their summer training for a 5K at Murrysville
Community Park during Ready, Set, Run 5K camp. Over seven weeks they
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jogged, sprinted and ran, gaining the knowledge and strength needed to
complete a 5K, which was held in August. Everyone should be very proud
of this awesome achievement!
Kids also enjoyed Pioneer Camp and STEAM camp, meeting historical
figures and learning about science while having FUN! More summer
programs will be available in 2019 so check the website and the Recreation
Department program guide, which will be published in late spring, for
more information and registration details.
Be an MVP!
A variety of park and community volunteer opportunities are available,
but volunteering is at an all-time low. Without valuable volunteers, many
of our community service organizations will not be able to continue. Our
park trails are maintained by volunteers. What will they look like if no one
is maintaining them any longer? The Murrysville Volunteer Program works
to raise community awareness of the needs for volunteering, streamline
existing volunteer efforts to increase volunteer participation, serve as
a conduit for residents who are interested in volunteering, enhance
relationships between local service organizations and the Municipality, and
increase knowledge of Municipal operations and volunteer opportunities.
More information can be found by visiting the municipal website at
https://www.murrysville.com/348/Volunteer-Program, by searching
Murrysville Volunteer Program on Facebook, or by calling 724-327-2100
ext. 115. Just an hour can make a difference!
Park Projects
Work began in Murrysville Community Park towards completing a DCNR
grant project to create a riparian buffer along Steele’s Run. The completed
project will include a new pavilion, walkway, bench seating, and hundreds
of trees and bushes. Also, excavation began for the new destination
playground and splash pad, with installation planned for spring of 2019.
Department Information
Information regarding Murrysville Recreation Department Programs
and Events can be found by visiting http://murrysvilleparecreation.com/, in
the Penn-Franklin Newspaper in our bi-annual supplement, or on Facebook
at Murrysville Recreation Department. We can also be reached by phone
during normal working hours at 724-327-2100 ext. 131 or ext. 115.