Zelienople Friends of the Park Celebrates Successful 2011

After three years in existence, the Zelienople Friends of the Park is capping off a successful 2011 with nearly $16,000 raised for community projects.

“We’re getting there,” said Alicia Flood, the organization’s treasurer/secretary.

The nonprofit was formed in 2009 after Flood learned from her husband -- parks board member Mickey Flood -- that Zelienople did not have the funds to replace a slide that needed to be torn down at the community pool. The borough also did not have enough money to pay for the borough’s annual , Flood said.

She quickly jumped into action.

“That evening, I spent an entire night emailing all of my friends who live in town saying this is what’s happening and we need to do something very quickly,” she said.

Before long, Friends of the Park was formed. Between February and July 2009, the nonprofit raised the $17,000 needed for a pool slide. Another $6,000 was used for the fireworks celebration, Flood said.

Their mission was accomplished, but the group had no plans to stop there. Members continue to raise money for park and pool improvements. They also fundraise to pay for the borough’s July 4 fireworks show.

“That’s a big event,” Flood said of the Independence Day celebration. “It’s not just Zelienople people; we have people from everywhere. doesn’t have fireworks on the Fourth of July, so we get all the Cranberry and Evans City crowds. There are thousands of people there.”

Throughout 2011, the nonprofit conducted a plethora of fundraisers, including a football pool, “Monster Mash” Halloween costume parties for children and adults, a coin drive and the which Flood said is the organization’s most successful fundraiser to date.

“These activities are so fun,” she said. “This has allowed people to say to us, ‘I’ve always wanted to do a …. whatever.’ We are their avenue now.”

The money raised in 2011 went to fireworks, a liquid blanket for the park’s big pool, a pool cover and reel for the baby pool, water heaters for the showers in the pool house bathrooms, new umbrellas and stands for the picnic tables and more.

The organization already is gearing up for next year.

Flood said some of the items the group hopes to purchase are new speakers and a public address system for the pool area. The organization also will work with Armstrong Cable to make the pool area a WiFi hotspot during the summer month, and there are plans to raise money for a zero entry transition into the pool to meet Americans with Disability Act requirements.

Volunteers are needed for 2012 Friends of the Park events, including another Derby Duck Race, a golf outing and other gatherings. To support the group's efforts, Flood suggested area residents buy 2012 pool memberships at a discounted winter rate for holiday gifts.

Another great gift is the purchase of a bronze, silver and gold leaf to honor of a friend or relative, Flood said. The leaves will be affixed to the “Tree of Life” on the north wall of the pool house. A bronze leaf costs $150, a silver leaf is $200, and a gold leaf is $500.  

“Get them a leaf, and let’s spread the leaves out on that tree,” Flood said.

To buy a leaf, email board member Tracy Devlin at kittydevlin@yahoo.com. For more information about Friends of the Park, click here.