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North Belle Vernon Park No Longer A Magnet For Drugs and Vandals

By Jill Runfola

The newly renovated North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park has been recognized as a top Mon Valley community family recreational facility. But that was not always the case.

Enjoying a day at North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park are (L-R): Olivia McKenzie, Kristin Kimball, baby Cole Dongilli and Carlee Dongilli.

The park on Graham St. has overcome many obstacles to get where it is today. Before the park was shut down in 2013, it was known as a haven for drugs and vandalism.

“Some parents would not even go there with their kids, let alone allow their kids be there to play alone,” said R.J. Sokol, NBV committee member and Councilman. Local mothers Carlee Dongilli and Kristin Kimball agreed with this sentiment. “I never used to bring my kids here before they renovated it,” said Dongilli. While Kimball added that the park previously was “just a bad crowd.”

The park reopened August 21, 2016, for a new start, and after continued renovations and maintenance, local parents are bringing their young children back to play. In 2018, the park added special exercise and handicapped equipment. Starting in 2019, the park will need to sustain itself financially, which it plans to do through grants, fundraisers, park advertisements, and an annual golf outing.

“30 years ago, the only thing they had at the park was a baseball field,” said Craig Ambrose, North Belle Vernon Mayor. “Now the park is one of the best places you can go to free of charge. People can come to play DEK hockey and use our turf field, and it’s extremely well lit up at night. It’s also a tobacco-free zone. There’s something here for every age bracket of kids.”

Local families and kids enjoy a sunny day on the recently renovated swings at the park.

Sokol wanted to point out the teamwork and cooperation that played a big part of the park’s turnaround. “Our elected officials such as Senator Pat Stefano, Legislator Justin Walsh, and Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas, all came together to help fight this war on drugs. They understood that the only way you’re going to accomplish anything is at the grassroots level.”

North Belle Vernon is not the only community that has benefitted from the renovated park. It has had a direct positive effect on the neighboring townships of Washington and Rostraver, and the borough of Belle Vernon. “The park has encouraged the Mon Valley Community to come together as one to help create a bond between the many communities located within our geographical areas,” said Lynn Sokol, NBV committee member. Evidence of this can be seen by the many that have made use of the park, such as the Fallowfield Township Volunteer Fire Dept.; Mon Valley Youth Ice Hockey Association; Belle Vernon Area Youth Soccer League; Monessen Elks Soccer for a Shootout Contest and several other area organizations and groups.

Charleroi youth enjoy a game of football on the new turf field.

“It is my hope that many other communities will create family-oriented safe places and open them up to the general population of the Mon Valley,” said R.J Sokol. “North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park is nothing more than a small piece of the overall puzzle that is needed to drag the Mon Valley area out of the depths of the drug addiction. We are hoping other school districts understand how important they are in fighting the drug problem in the community zone.

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