City Council
Council makes the most of Department of Public Works Director's presence during Park discussion.
A 2017 bill let Norfolk Southern Railway use Allegheny Commons Park for equipment. Council is now weighing whether to extend it. A council member wants design standards for equipment storage and fencing so parks stay enjoyable for the public. From there, talk veered into unrelated questions for the Public Works director, like event capacity and park repairs.
Written by Amy Whipple
- Council discussed a bill that would extend the use of Allegheny Commons Park for Norfolk Southern Railway Company equipment. The original bill is from 2017.
- Councilmember Gross would like to create design standards regarding equipment storage (including surrounding fencing). She’d like Parks to remain enjoyable for the public and not “just the same as any city street.”
- The conversation derailed into Council’s unrelated questions for Director Hornstein. Among others:
- Councilmembers Kail-Smith and Strassberger: determining the capacity of Parks when hosting special events.
- Councilmember Gross: alerting communities ahead of large events that might be disruptive, especially in the evening.
- Councilmembers Warwick and Mosley: repairing damage to the baseball diamond in Mellon Park after a heavily attended Juneteenth celebration.
- Councilmember Coghill: meeting his request from six months ago for a light on the flag at Accamando Center.
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- City Council · June 24, 2025
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