Adelphoi welcomes new park on Latrobe campus, looks to further expansion

The center of Adelphoi’s Latrobe village now has a lush, green hub to welcome students.

The nonprofit child care agency recently added a park to its educational campus. Park amenities include an amphitheater, bridge, picnic tables, benches and an empty, grassy space for activities.

Karyn Pratt, Adelphoi vice president of marketing and strategy development, hopes the space becomes a focal point of community gathering.

“We wanted it in some ways to feel like a college campus,” Pratt said. “There’s a center green space where kids can hang out and play Frisbee.”

Before being transformed into a park, the space was a “swale,” Pratt said. Now, it offers new opportunities for “leisure and recreation.”

The idea for the park took root several years ago. Construction began in May 2021, and Adelphoi added plants and final landscaping touches to the space in the past six weeks.

Before the park, Adelphoi’s recreational landmark was its gymnasium, which Pratt said didn’t meet the needs of all students.

“Not all of our kids are kids who excel at sports or want to play sports,” she said. “(The park gives) an opportunity to go outside, read a book and be surrounded by nature.”

Every day, between 200 and 300 students arrive on the 20-acre campus, Pratt said.

Further growth is on the horizon for the nonprofit. Adelphoi anticipates construction of a new building on the Latrobe campus will wrap up this summer. Additionally, the agency just received a $2.5 million grant from the state that could be used for further growth, Pratt said.

Adelphoi held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park May 19. After the ceremony, staff members, families, donors and other guests enjoyed refreshments and listened to various testimonies about Adelphoi’s impact during a “Showcase of Stars” celebration.

Founded in 1971, the Latrobe-based nonprofit helps at-risk youth and families in more than 30 counties in Pennsylvania. Services offered include group homes, foster and adoptive services, education opportunities and mental health programs.

“Showcase of Stars” specifically focused on Adelphoi’s role in the foster care system.

Foster Care and Adoption Director Robin Klimke said there is a lack of foster homes across the state right now and encouraged those in attendance to talk to their families, co-workers and neighbors about becoming a foster parent.

“If anybody is interested, please have them give Adelphoi a call,” Klimke said.