JOHNSTOWN, PA - By spring, a volunteer group will begin development of a new playground in Johnstown’s West End neighborhood.

The play area is part of a continuing effort to improve the Fairfield Avenue lot that also hosts the city’s skateboard park and a basketball court.

Having already assisted with relocating the controversial skate park to another part of Bheam School playground, West End Improvement Group now is moving forward on the playground project with help from a $2,500 grant.

“It’s going to be really nice,” said Marie Mock, the group’s secretary-treasurer.

The grant, from Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, will assist with landscaping and other site preparation for a playground.

Read more about the project here .

Some other tidbits from the article:

• West End Improvement Group chose to "break up" a large playspace project into smaller, more manageable pieces.
• Volunteers also hope to upgrade an adjacent basketball court and add other amenities, including fencing, lighting and benches.
• Group members also are planning a neighborhood celebration -- a Christmas Parade -- to kick off the holiday season later this month.
• The West End Improvement Group (formed about 18 months ago) volunteers, have tackled projects including community cleanups and beautification work including upgrades to an underpass, skate-park renovations and the development of a Web site where former and current West End residents can swap information (www.ilivedinthewestend.com, is not yet operational).