Local People
- Last Updated on Saturday, 30 November 2019 00:38
On October 21, 2019, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (PA Chapter of APA) held its Annual Awards Luncheon in Reading, PA where over 480 attendees celebrated the esteemed award winners of this year’s highly competitive program. One of those awards was presented to North Belle Vernon man, R.J. Sokol, “Award for a Leader – Elected Official.”
R.J. Sokol, councilman for North Belle Vernon, a small borough of 1,800 people in Westmoreland County, led a two-year effort to revitalize the run-down and closed community park. Sokol led a mostly-volunteer community team in planning and redeveloping the park. Planning work included research of needs, particularly for youth sports growing in interest and not being met elsewhere, developing a funding plan, and obtaining approvals. Sokol managed purchases and construction, including much donated and volunteer work to reduce cost. A feature of the park is its special needs facility with wheelchair slide and swing, car seat swings, and dual swings for babies and guardians. Sokol credited the community saying. “Everybody stepped in to be a part.”
