$1 million grant celebrated

$1 million grant celebrated at Fairview Park

Hundreds of youth to benefit from ball fields on Mayview site

By Andrea Iglar

Against all odds, Bryson Ackermann will play ball on the new fields that are coming to South Fayette.

Bryson had participated in community T-ball and baseball until fall 2018, when he experienced a sudden onset of acute flaccid myelitis, an uncommon but serious condition that causes muscle weakness.

At age six he became partially paralyzed, and it seemed unlikely he would ever play baseball again.

But Bryson worked hard, spending hours catching and throwing with his dad, Jeff. After two years, the boy’s arm was strong enough to rejoin 640 other kids on the team. His best position is first base.

Ten-year-old Bryson joined, along with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources leaders, visited Fairview Park in April to celebrate South Fayette Township's $1 million grant award for construction of three ball fields with artificial turf infields, dugouts, bleachers, lighting, a batting cage and ADA-accessible walking paths.

South Fayette Baseball and Softball Association board member Jerry McElligott said Bryson and other players, coaches and the community will benefit from the fields.

“We’re super excited,” he said.

The fields will host activities such as baseball, softball and cricket. Construction is expected to start in 2023.

The $1 million grant comes from federal Land and Water Conservation Fund money. Combined with $685,000 in additional grants and contributions, the $2.1 million project is 80 percent funded by non-township dollars.

Lauren Imgrund, deputy secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, visits Fairview Park in April to celebrate South Fayette Township's $1 million grant award for ball fields. Cheering, from left, are Township Manager John M. Barrett, Bryan Churilla of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., State Rep. Jason Ortitay, Ms.Imgrund, State Sen. Devlin Robinson, Parks and Recreation Director Paula Willis, Commissioner Keith Dernosek, South Fayette Baseball and Softball Association board member Jerry McElligott and baseball player Bryson Ackermann.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

The facility will provide safe playing conditions, increase field availability and create a welcoming community hub, said Paula Willis, the township parks and recreation director.

“I hope with facilities like this we can make the community proud,” she said.

The sports fields will be walkable from 700 homes and businesses in the Hastings and Fairview Manor neighborhoods.

Lauren Imgrund, deputy secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the ball field project will help achieve the goal of offering locally accessible recreation within a 10-minute walk of every person in Pennsylvania.

“It’s so wonderful to be with communities like yours who really recognize the importance of parks and recreation,” Imgrund said.

Adam Mattis, a state recreation and conservation manager, said the artificial turf infields will solve problems with water on the fields.

“Instead of waiting days for them to dry up, you’ll wait for a couple hours, and you’ll be able to play,” he said.

South Fayette is expanding Fairview Park on 68 acres of former Mayview State Hospital land the township bought in 2017.

The three-phase project, designed by Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. of Cranberry, will include a fenced, wooded dog park with trails, a pavilion with restrooms, a driveway to Mayview Road, a splash pad and the ball fields.

Keith Dernosek, a township commissioner, said he grew up near Fairview Park.

“I used to play here when it was cornfields back in the day,” he said. “To see what is happening now is great.”

In addition to the $1 million grant, funding includes:

• $500,000, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development COVID relief fund

• $145,000, Redevelopment Authority Allegheny County, Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund

• $25,000, T-Mobile Hometown Grant

• $15,000, South Fayette Baseball and Softball Association

“This is really a community, multi-partner project,” Willis said, “and I hope that this showcases what cooperation and work can do.”