New Digs for PAL?
The Abington Police Chief says the nonprofit is looking to move.
The Abington Police Athletic League is searching for a home of its own … and may have found one in Crestmont.
Abington Police Chief William Kelly said during Wednesday night’s public safety committee meeting that the PAL organization now has a committee to find a new home.
PAL, which provides recreational activities for the township’s 11 to 18 year olds, currently holds events at the Abington School District-owned Glenside-Weldon School on Easton Road on Fridays and Saturdays. PAL pays rent to the school district; Kelly said the site may not be available to the organization in the future due to “a variety of reasons.”
“We’ve been looking for a site for PAL for quite some time,” Kelly said. “Recreational places throughout the township are jammed.”
Kelly said the PAL committee “identified a great site on township property at Crestmont Park.”
“There’s no motion — nothing to vote on or to be decided, but just before you heard any rumors, I just wanted to come to the board so you knew this was being considered,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he did not have a timeline for the proposed facility.
Commissioner Wayne Luker, whose ward encompasses Crestmont Park, said residents would be receptive to a PAL facility at the park. He called it an “ideal location” and “easily accessible.”
Board of Commissioners president and PAL board member Peggy Myers said after the meeting that PAL has been looking for a permanent home for about 2-3 years. Myers said that while the school district hasn’t pressured PAL to leave the Glenside-Weldon location, she said she knows the school district has plans for the former elementary school in its future.
Myers said the goal for PAL would be to offer activities to the township’s youth seven days a week.
“Crestmont Park is a feasible location and residents want a community center there,” Myers said.
Though the plans are in their infancy, Myers said she has the specs for a proposed building at the park.
“It’s got to have a gym,” she said. “I don’t know how big it has to be, but it’s got to at least have a gym, and we can build out from there."
Any proposed building at the Crestmont Park location would be built with PAL money, Myers said, adding that the organization would have to start a capital campaign. The township would have to lease the land to the nonprofit organization.
Victor B. Krievins
10:22 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Abington PAL is the best possible program for the youth of our township! It is supported entirely by private donations and donations from the public. NO TAX DOLLARS ARE EVER USED. The food festival is the event of the year. It is the best $ 50.00 you will ever spend! The money goes to a great cause and you will also have a great evening at the event. Last evening, one of our residents (as usual) attacked PAL for no reason. The statements she made were not factual just as many of the statements she makes in her in weekly
"Letters to the Editor".Everyone involved with PAL is a devoted volunteer including Lew Klein, Charles Shorday as well as Comm. Peggy Myers, Chief Bill Kelly, Doug Wendell and countless others as well.. Our Youth stays out of trouble because of the programs offered by PAL. For that microscopic amount who do get into trouble, we offer the Youth Aid Panel. Abington continues to have much to offer all of its residents. Certainly a GREAT PLace to live and work.