Dormont Borough playgrounds closed indefinitely due to needed safety upgrades

DORMONT, Pa. (KDKA) -- Playgrounds in Dormont will be closed until further notice so that the borough can make necessary safety upgrades. 

The borough shared the news about closing the playgrounds on Thursday saying that the three programs will be closed for the safety of the community's children. 

Borough Councilperson Amie Downs said that Dormont's insurance carrier told them Thursday that they would no longer insure the playgrounds because of safety issues at each of them. 

"The risk assessment was taken several weeks ago, and we just received the notification yesterday," said Dormont manager John Stinner.

She says that the borough is working to quickly find a resolution and will be sending out more information in the near future. 

"I guess I can't take 'em here today, huh," said Wesley Haynes of Belle Vernon.

Haynes doesn't live in Dormont but works nearby. He wanted to take his wife and kid after work Friday.

"We don't really get people to talk to so we just find cool places, go to them," Haynes said.

The mostly wooden playground at Dormont Park is one of three now closed. There's another closed-down playground at Beggs Snyder Park in Dormont. It came as a surprise to many. 

"I have four kids, so I've been coming here since my oldest who is 22 was younger," Cara Lewis of Dormont said. "And my youngest one's in 2nd grade so we use the parks a lot."

Stinner said replacements were already being worked on, something Dormont resident Cara Lewis says is true.

"Dormont has been working on a parks plan and they include the community in it," Lewis said. "So, we know that it's on their radar to fix things."

Overall, the people KDKA-TV spoke with are happy the borough is being proactive.

"Finally, you know, someone actually taking care of an issue early instead of waiting, somebody complaining," Haynes said.

Anyone wishing to be involved in the discussion about the playgrounds is invited to attend the borough's council meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. The meeting is held at the borough's municipal building but can also be attended virtually via Zoom. 

In the meantime, people who use the playgrounds that are closed are suggested to use nearby playgrounds at Banksville Park, Hale Park, the Greentree Nature Center, Mt. Lebanon Park, and Williamsburg Park.