A project to upgrade the playground equipment at Kennedy Township’s Fairhaven Park is expected to be completed soon. (Photo by Dave Fortna).

By Lourdes Daughtry, West Hills Gazette

Despite a wet spring and early summer, the new playground at Fairhaven Park is nearly finished and Kennedy Township officials are hoping it’s ready for use by the middle of the month.

That was the word Wednesday from Dave Fortna, chair of the township’s Parks and Recreation Board, who provided a progress report after visiting the project site earlier in the day.

“Weather has played a significant factor — with all the rain we’ve had, we’ve been delayed,” he said.

Township Manager Greg Clarke, in fact, said the original goal was to have the playground open by Memorial Day. But the rainy weather and the length of time it takes to get approvals for federally-funded projects combined to delay the project.

As a result, work didn’t get started until late May, Fortna said. “So with all the wet weather, it’s not too bad all things considered,” he said. “Our public works and the playground equipment company have done a great job.”

(To see the rest of the story, visit West Hills Gazette.)

Lourdes Daughtry is a student at Temple University and one of 10 Pittsburgh Media Partnership summer interns.