South Greensburg plans grand opening for playground

The caution tape around the new, 30,000-square-foot playground in South Greensburg will come down Saturday at a grand opening for the $200,000 project.

Mayor Kevin Fajt will cut the ribbon to open the playground.

Borough officials and volunteers have spent almost two years planning, fundraising and building the playground on Sheridan Avenue, which replaces the antiquated equipment that’s been there longer than anyone can remember.

Jennifer Detore, a member of the borough recreation board who helped lead the renovation, said the focus was on making a space kids of all ages can enjoy.

“An entire family can come to this playground and there’s no restrictions,” she said.

Many of the playground’s features are wheelchair-accessible.

It also features some unusual pieces of equipment, including a “gravity rail,” which is a cross between a zip line and a swing.

The project was built with grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County in conjunction with the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and many private donors.

Detore said it’s been a challenge keeping kids off the playground during the final stages of construction.

Soon they’ll be able to play to their heart’s content.

The grand opening will happen at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.