The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of Roosevelt Park in Arnold, PA and Memorial Park in New Kensington, PA.
1. To ensure they are safe, clean and presentable, and that all facilities and structures
maintained and functional.
2. To ensure that the parks serve the general public and surrounding community
regardless of race, politics, religion and beliefs.
3. To work together with park and city officials to inform and involve the community in
key park issues.
4. To raise funds to support our mission.
Paula Daugherty Davis
Tim DiMaio
Lou Downard
Tom Dunn
Dano Galie
Jeff Pogas
Cary Rigatti
John Secrist
Patti Sobkiw
Mario Tempest
Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center
The City Of New Kensington
Each year, the students and instructors of The Northern Westmoreland Career and
Technology Center donate their time and skills helping with the construction work, along with workers from The City of New Kensington Public Works and Parks Department, on the renovations at Memorial Park.
2014: In addition to the funds raised, from our first Band Blast Benefit Concert, the New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee received a $20,000.00 Grant from The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, which was used to replace Main Pavilions A and B with new ones. To view photo of the new pavilions go to GRANTS
The city's Redevelopment Authority earmarked about $40,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant money for the project also.
To read about the $20,000.00 Grant click Thanks for the support
2011-2013: Funds raised during these years went towards replacing the bathrooms & Main Pavilion C, which had been burned down, completely renovating the bandstand (with assistance from members of the New Kensington Volunteer Fire Department)
and removing the lifting Omni Stone in front of the stage and replace it with reinforced concrete.
The City of Arnold
New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park sponsors Rockin' Roosevelt, a Benefit Concert to help raise funds to staff the park to keep it opened during the summer months for the children.
2015: The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee has successfully partnered with the City of Arnold and Canzian/Johnston Architects to obtain a $26,000 grant through the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County from the “Revitalizing Westmoreland” community initiative grant program. The grant funds will be used to install an accessible safety surface and additional age-appropriate playground equipment to the existing tot lot playground area at Roosevelt Park in the City of Arnold. Also, new benches and trash receptacles will be installed. The project will be professionally designed and specified by Canzian/Johnston Architects (who are graciously donating their services). The project will be advertised, bid and awarded to a qualified contractor for completion during the spring of 2016. The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee is providing required matching funds toward the project from its “Rockin’ Roosevelt” fundraising efforts.
The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee was founded in August of 2011 inspired by Rob Greb. He felt that FaceBook brought friends and family together, so why not have an event that everyone can meet face to face. This was the birth of the first event held in September 2011 at Memorial Park New Kensington. SInce then we have held nine events at Memorial Park and seven at Roosevelt Park.
We lost Rob in March 2012 and the committee dedicated a plaque in his honor. He was active in local theater groups, so
it was only fitted that the plaque be mounted on the stage. Cindy Downard designed the plaque and Steve Paulovich cast and sculpted it.
The New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee wishes to thank the The New
Kensington Points of Light Committee
for inducting us into the Points of Light
Honor Roll, at the New Kensington City
Council meeting tonight. We are so honored & humbled to receive this recognition, with the likes of the Mt. St. Peter's Church Clothes Closet, Penn St. University-New Kensington Campus & the Allegheny Valley Council of Churches. Many thanks to my friend, Melvyn Smith of the Points of Light Committee, for nominating our group. Kudos to our committee members for their love of the community, their hard work & giving of their valuable time, to make our parks, a better place, for our citizens & especially our children. Our committee members: Robert Checkeye, Tim DiMaio, Cindy Gentile Downard, Tom Dunn, Dana Jones. Veronica Bowser Jones, Randy McFall, Becky Pagano, Cary Rigatti, John Secrist. Patti Sobkiw. Mario Tempesr & Lenora Greb Vasey. See More
Certificate given to the members of the New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park committee in 2011 from Mayor Tom Guzzo, at the City Council meeting. We presented the Mayor with a check of $425 to be put towards the restoration of the Memorial Park bathrooms.
To see a larger view of the certificate,
click on it.
Created 2014 All rights reserved.