Newport Veterans Memorial Park Revitalization

In 2009, Ruth Ann Linn, a noted community leader and grandmother, approached NRPS with an idea to improve the Newport Veterans Memorial Park (NVMP). The idea was born while a group of grandmothers had gathered to watch their grandchildren play baseball at the Billy Cox Field at the park.  They wanted to clean up and enhance the entrance to the NVMP. 

NRPS agreed to help and the effort became known as Grandma’s Plus Playground Project. After successfully cleaning up the entrance to the park, support grew, and it was decided to continue the effort throughout the entire park.  The next project included improving the playground area which was neglected and had only a few operational items for children to use.

NRPS coordinated the efforts with the Borough of Newport and raised funds to buy new playground equipment and make repairs to some existing equipment. NRPS volunteers, with assistance from other community residents, provided the labor to make the improvements.

NRPS lead the effort to secure funds to match a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant to build a new multi-use building housing a concession area for ball leagues, ADA accessible restrooms, and storage areas.

Funds were raised to purchase a portion of a property at the north end of the NVMP to establish the Susan M. Connell Nature Area.  Susan was a member of NRPS, and funds for the new nature area were provided in her memory.

Eventually the remaining portion of that property became available and NRPS secured another DCNR grant and used private funds to purchase it for future use for the park. Additional grants were secured by NRPS to continue the park improvements. A Hoverter Foundation grant was secured to resurface the basketball court.  A PPL grant was secured to establish horseshoe pits, batting cages, additional fencing, and new play equipment. NRPS also made contributions to the baseball and softball leagues to repair bleachers and dugouts.

Most recently NRPS volunteers assisted in installing new equipment in the playground and fencing for the girls’ softball field.  Financing for these improvements was provided by a grant the Borough of Newport secured.

There has been ongoing maintenance of the park and nature area with the Newport High School Environmental Club and other community service youths partnering with NRPS to make the NVMP a valuable community resource.