When the former Oakmont borough manager, Adeline Brown, suggested that the empty, unsafe house the borough owned on Fifth Street be razed, she proposed that it someday become a community park.
Tom Bland, then a member of borough council and currently a member of the borough recreation board, took that idea one step further.
“I brought up bocce and got lots of laughs,” Bland says.
But after several years of discussion, the support of State Rep. Frank Dermody, two Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grants and a lot of work from area construction firms, landscapers, and the borough recreation board, there will be bocce in Oakmont.
The Borough of Oakmont Fifth Street Memorial Park, located next to the Borough Building, will be dedicated this spring to our veterans, police officers and fire fighters.
Both league play and open play will be available to Oakmont residents — open play on weekdays and weekends, and league play tentatively planned for May through September, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. until dusk.
While the bocce courts may be new to Oakmont, the game itself dates back seven millennia. Not exactly as we know it, of course.
Find out what's happening in Plum-Oakmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Greeks threw polished rocks towards a target in an open space. Oakmont’s new park has two regulation size courts made of the now standard tamped crushed stone.
Oakmont has built it, but will they come? Bland thinks so.
“I think demand is large. I visited courts in two different areas and spoke to people. It is a very social event, and seems to be growing.”
According to the United States Bocce Federation, the popularity of bocce is indeed growing, with more than 25,000,000 bocce enthusiasts throughout the United States. Many of these, perhaps the majority, are older adults, and the borough and recreation board had this demographic in mind when deciding where to put bocce courts in Oakmont.
“We designed the park to be a walkable parklet, or neighborhood park, which is a popular concept now,” Bland says.
“The sport is one of a few that can serve our older population and therefore, location is key. Riverside Park isn’t nearly as easy to walk to or as centrally located, and we are already overwhelmed with needs there.”
Of course, a new neighborhood park, like any new structure, is not without some challenges. The primary concern with Fifth Street Memorial Park is the same as with most parklets — parking.
“Parking was the only worry the neighbors had,” said Dolly Provenza, recreation board member.
Find out what's happening in Plum-Oakmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We are encouraging people to walk to the park [by getting the word out and through signage] and there is parking available in a lot in the rear.”
The recreation board is currently accepting league applications. Any groups or individuals interesting in playing in a league, can send an email to oakmontrecreation@gmail.com including name, address, email and phone number, or contact the borough office by phone at 412-828-3232. Register by March 31.
League teams must have five or six members and provide a list if available. Each team must have at least one member who is a resident of Oakmont.
Editors Note: Regina Vitti-Lyons is a member of the Oakmont Recreation Board.
