Vine Street Park eyed as site for replacement of rat-infested borough garage
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Vine Street Park is seen in 2021.
SHENANDOAH – For the past six decades, it’s been a hub of recreation and a staple of many west enders’ childhoods. That could all end as the borough looks to replace its rat-infested garage.
Vine Street Park is “most likely” where Shenandoah Borough will build a new garage, Borough Manager Mike Cadau told the Sentinel after Monday’s council meeting.
Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman Michael Whitecavage said in his committee report he “isn’t considering that a park [right now] because we’re going to utilize that for the new borough garage.”
Borough officials say the new garage is needed as the current garage at Bicentennial Park is infested with rodents, Cadau and Streets Department head Brian Oliver both said. Oliver said they want to move “as quick as possible.”
“I am meeting with a gentleman tomorrow talking about looking to put the garage down on Vine Street to get a quote to see what it’s going to cost us,” Oliver said.
He said the garbage truck is at a shop in Berks County with damage caused by rodents. The truck needs to be kept separate from the rest of the borough’s fleet, he added, and washed regularly.
Both officials said they consulted with an exterminator and said it would be difficult, if not impossible, to handle the situation at the current garage and would involve weekly visits “trying to catch rats.”
It was built in 2007 to replace the longtime garage on South Jardin Street at the former borough hall. The garage, Cadau said, also lacks water, adequate heat, and a break room for borough streets department workers.
The cost, Oliver said, could be between $100,000 and $200,000. Cadau said the building will be put out for bids. Oliver is suggesting a four-to-five bay garage.
Whitecavage raised a motion to place the project in the financial committee for fact-finding which was approved 6-0 by council. Councilman Joe Gawrylik was not present.
“That should be top priority,” Council Vice President Mike “Zeckie” Uholik said of the garage project. “I don’t care how many bills we have, but we’re wasting a ton of money [down there.]”
Vine Street Park is the only one of Shenandoah’s three parks west of Main Street and is the closest park to the Shenandoah Valley School District campus.
It was built in the early 1960’s by the former Shenandoah Playground Association and has been a hub of activity on the west end ever since.
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