W. Penn’s bid for additional grant for J.E. Morgan Memorial Park denied

West Penn Township’s request for an additional grant to improve J.E. Morgan Memorial Park has been rebuffed.

Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Tony Prudenti announced at Monday’s meeting that the township’s application request for a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant has been denied.

However, Lehigh Engineering, the board’s engineering firm, said it would apply for funding for the park at no cost to the township.

In April, supervisors on a 2-0 vote agreed to do the field, which is complete. Prudenti abstained from that vote because he serves on the Park Committee.

Supervisors said at that time their main concern was to build a good baseball and soccer field to be used by the growing youth ball leagues.

The grant would be used to carry out the J.E. Morgan Memorial Park Project, and will be used for more park equipment, another pavilion, well, electric, storage shed for sports equipment, and potentially a bathroom.

In March, supervisors adopted a resolution stating that the township desires to receive a grant from DCNR for the purpose of carrying out the J.E. Morgan Memorial Park Project.

The township last year received a $55,000 grant to spruce up a park, and has since renamed the former West Penn Park East after the late John E. Morgan, who passed away in 2001.

That grant was to pay for a new sign; playground equipment; re-skinned infield of the baseball field; an equipment shed/stand; pavilion and picnic tables.