West Deer receives grants for Bairdford Park project, West Deer Fire Company No. 3 station relocation project

Two grants from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund came to West Deer last month, contributing to the township’s ongoing work on its parks and to the volunteer fire company’s station development.

The township was awarded $59,000 for its Bairdford Park project. This is the second grant given to the township after receiving $100,000 from the tourism fund program for renovations of the park’s pavilion in 2019. The grant was used for roof and decking replacement, and replacement of the lower supports and foundational pads.

The Bairdford Park project is a part of a Park Master Plan for both West Deer’s Nike Site Park and Bairdford Park, funded in part through multiple grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and tourism fund.

The first portion of the project planned for this year was estimated to cost $863,550.

West Deer Chairwoman Beverly Jordan looks forward to giving kids in the community more amenities to interact with in the park.

“It is really exciting to get that help to give us ability to do more,” she said.

The township anticipates beginning its Bairdford Park project this spring or summer with completion by autumn if everything goes as planned, Township Manager Daniel Mator said.

The project calls for construction of a pavilion; courts for tennis, pickleball and basketball; a dek hockey rink; accessible parking areas and walkways; and new bleacher seats and fencing.

The project will make the facility accessible for people with physical challenges and will include landscaping, new signs and other site improvements.

The West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 received $250,000 for its station relocation project.

West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 Chief Josh Wiegand said the fire company is limited to the money they receive. Most income comes from the fire tax, fundraising and donations, Wiegand said.

“The grants really help us in moving forward with larger projects that those three sources of income don’t cover,” he said.

The fire department bought the former Krigger & Co. building on 4360 Gibsonia Road for $1.8 million in a deal closed in September. The deal was made possible through financing with Mars Bank.

After calling 4372 Gibsonia Road home for 58 years, Wiegand said, the department felt it was time to upgrade. He said the building was becoming too small, leaving no opportunity for expansion.

The department will be renovating its new building in three phases. Wiegand said they are in phase one, which involves adding garage doors and making the building usable for their needs.

The grant will pay for phase two, when they expand their apparatus bay (used for fire vehicles) and enclose a large canopy in the rear of the building. Phase three will be for expansion of bunk rooms and showers, but the time is to be determined.

Wiegand hopes the department is able to move into the new building by this summer.

“We are very thankful to be considered, and this is tremendous benefit for the West Deer Community,” he said.