The Pegan Building
From Private Clubhouse to Public Indoor Pavilion and Restrooms
written by Marilyn Black, volunteer for Cochranton Boro
When you visit Cochranton Lions Community Park these days, you’ll notice that the large dark green metal-sided building has been spruced up. But you’ll need to look inside to see the even more extensive interior changes made during 2025 and 2026. Renovations to the newly named Pegan Building were designed to make the building more accessible for people with disabilities, safer for everyone, and provide highly desired year-round restrooms and amenities to make the building’s uses more flexible.
Cochranton Boro applied to the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in the spring of 2024, seeking a $100,000 Small Community Development grant in the Conservation Community Partnership Program for “Cochranton Lions Community Park; Accessibility Improvements; Phase Two.” Matching funds were pledged by the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE) in the amount of $15,000. The Boro pledged matching support in the form of monetary funding and dedicated in-kind services by Boro personnel, totaling $55,000. The very welcome letter dated November 12, 2024 announcing grant approval of the requested $100,000 level enabled detailed engineering for this estimated $170,000 project to begin.
The former Lions Clubhouse is a central cinder-block one-story structure to which sloped extensions on the west and east sides were added while the local chapter operated this 13-acre park, which sits on land which belonged to Dr. Howard and Mary Pegan who together in 1960 transferred the property to the Lions Club. Over the years, club membership reduced; and they realized a change of park ownership, maintenance, and operation was needed in order to assure ongoing availability and enhancements to the park into the future. The deed transferred the park ownership and responsibilities to Cochranton Boro in August, 2019.
Engineering plans entailed removal of the unutilized kitchen equipment and interior walls from the west wing of the building; that space now contains two newly constructed individual ADA-accessible restrooms and a well-lit hallway. Each bathroom includes a baby-changing table. From sunup to sundown daily the new hallway entrance door is open. The hall wall displays information about the Cochranton Lions Club and its history.
The 27’X 22’ center meeting/event room’s new amenities make it what DCNR calls an Indoor Pavilion. The inner north wall is a room-wide countertop with many electrical outlets for crockpots, coffee makers, etc. and a new stainless-steel double-basin sink. Another individual restroom is connected to this gathering room. New black plastic folding 8’ tables and comfortable matching plastic chairs can be organized to suit the activities of families and groups which rent this interior space, at a $65/day fee paid to the Boro.
Electrical service, emergency lighting, plumbing, and heating systems throughout the building are upgraded to comply with modern construction code. New items include the entire roof, smooth concrete floors, ADA-accessible doors, and an overhead door in the east wing.
The major contractors were selected via formal bidding rounds, resulting in these contracts with area firms: Electric – R. E. Johnson Electric Company; General Construction (including new roof) – Gildea Group LLC; Plumbing – Gildea; and Heating – Gildea. Additional suppliers included Pyler Entry Systems (overhead door) and engineering and architectural services by StruXures LLC.
You’re invited to step inside the Pegan Building to see this four-season facility and its amenities. Show your appreciation by being respectful of the features provided for your free use and comfort year-round.
When you visit Cochranton Lions Community Park these days, you’ll notice that the large dark green metal-sided building has been spruced up. But you’ll need to look inside to see the even more extensive interior changes made during 2025 and 2026. Renovations to the newly named Pegan Building were designed to make the building more accessible for people with disabilities, safer for everyone, and provide highly desired year-round restrooms and amenities to make the building’s uses more flexible.
Cochranton Boro applied to the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in the spring of 2024, seeking a $100,000 Small Community Development grant in the Conservation Community Partnership Program for “Cochranton Lions Community Park; Accessibility Improvements; Phase Two.” Matching funds were pledged by the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE) in the amount of $15,000. The Boro pledged matching support in the form of monetary funding and dedicated in-kind services by Boro personnel, totaling $55,000. The very welcome letter dated November 12, 2024 announcing grant approval of the requested $100,000 level enabled detailed engineering for this estimated $170,000 project to begin.
The former Lions Clubhouse is a central cinder-block one-story structure to which sloped extensions on the west and east sides were added while the local chapter operated this 13-acre park, which sits on land which belonged to Dr. Howard and Mary Pegan who together in 1960 transferred the property to the Lions Club. Over the years, club membership reduced; and they realized a change of park ownership, maintenance, and operation was needed in order to assure ongoing availability and enhancements to the park into the future. The deed transferred the park ownership and responsibilities to Cochranton Boro in August, 2019.
Engineering plans entailed removal of the unutilized kitchen equipment and interior walls from the west wing of the building; that space now contains two newly constructed individual ADA-accessible restrooms and a well-lit hallway. Each bathroom includes a baby-changing table. From sunup to sundown daily the new hallway entrance door is open. The hall wall displays information about the Cochranton Lions Club and its history.
The 27’X 22’ center meeting/event room’s new amenities make it what DCNR calls an Indoor Pavilion. The inner north wall is a room-wide countertop with many electrical outlets for crockpots, coffee makers, etc. and a new stainless-steel double-basin sink. Another individual restroom is connected to this gathering room. New black plastic folding 8’ tables and comfortable matching plastic chairs can be organized to suit the activities of families and groups which rent this interior space, at a $65/day fee paid to the Boro.
Electrical service, emergency lighting, plumbing, and heating systems throughout the building are upgraded to comply with modern construction code. New items include the entire roof, smooth concrete floors, ADA-accessible doors, and an overhead door in the east wing.
The major contractors were selected via formal bidding rounds, resulting in these contracts with area firms: Electric – R. E. Johnson Electric Company; General Construction (including new roof) – Gildea Group LLC; Plumbing – Gildea; and Heating – Gildea. Additional suppliers included Pyler Entry Systems (overhead door) and engineering and architectural services by StruXures LLC.
You’re invited to step inside the Pegan Building to see this four-season facility and its amenities. Show your appreciation by being respectful of the features provided for your free use and comfort year-round.
Parks and Recreation Survey 2023
Cochranton Borough is preparing a Parks and Recreation Plan. Action strategies are being prepared for improving Cochranton Landing; Cochranton Lions Community Park; Cochranton Fairgrounds; Cochranton Greenways Trail; and creating connections to the elementary school, junior/senior high school, borough-owned properties and other community destinations.
A Parks and Recreation Survey has been prepared to obtain input on facilities, amenities, events, programming and other improvements that the community values and wants to have at the Park/Recreation areas and connections they want to the Greenways Trail. Please take the Survey and tell us what you think. It will only take a few minutes to complete.
We would like responses by November 1.
You can access the Survey using the following link.
Hard copies of the Survey are available in the Borough Office and the Cochranton Area Public Library.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CochrantonParks
Cochranton Borough is preparing a Parks and Recreation Plan. Action strategies are being prepared for improving Cochranton Landing; Cochranton Lions Community Park; Cochranton Fairgrounds; Cochranton Greenways Trail; and creating connections to the elementary school, junior/senior high school, borough-owned properties and other community destinations.
A Parks and Recreation Survey has been prepared to obtain input on facilities, amenities, events, programming and other improvements that the community values and wants to have at the Park/Recreation areas and connections they want to the Greenways Trail. Please take the Survey and tell us what you think. It will only take a few minutes to complete.
We would like responses by November 1.
You can access the Survey using the following link.
Hard copies of the Survey are available in the Borough Office and the Cochranton Area Public Library.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CochrantonParks
December 27, 2021
Clean Up Continues; Seven New Trees Planted
While the clean-up from the devastating September wind storm continues, a tree grant from the PA Urban & Community Forestry Council has gifted the park with seven new trees. On the advice of the PA Extension office, the grant will add variety to our tree inventory. Several of the trees are spring blooming while others are noted for their fall colors. The trees have been planted in several areas throughout the park.
Starting at the basketball court entrance, a large sycamore and a black walnut have been replaced with a Kentucky Coffee Tree [Gymnocladus diocus] and a Miyabe Maple [Acer miyabei "state street"]. Further on down by the Friends of the Park monument stands a Japanese Tree Lilac [Syringa reticulate "ivory silk"] Walking around the park you will find a Spring Wonder Cherry [Prunus sargentii "spring wonder"] planted next to a park bench and an Amur Maple [Acer ginnala "ruby slippers"] in front of Pavillion 1. The last two trees, a hackberry [ Celtis 'magnifica' occidentalis] and a deciduous conifer known as a Dawn Redwood [Metasequoia glyptotroboides], have been placed along the park side of the old tennis court.
The Borough is excited about our new acquisitions and invite you to take note of the trees when you visit the park. We ask that you help us protect them so that we may watch them grow and bloom for years to come.
For further information about our trees, visit:
Kentucky coffee Tree https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a872
Miyabe Maple https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a396
Japanese Tree Lilac www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?
Spring Wonder Cherry http://www.thetreefarm.com/cherry-spring-wonder
Amur Maple www.chicagobotanic.org/plantcollections/plantfinder/acer_ginnala_ruby_slippers--
Hackberry www.ebben.nl/en/treeebb/ceomagni-celtis-magnifica/pdf/
Dawn Redwood www.conifers.org/cu/Metasequoia.php
Clean Up Continues; Seven New Trees Planted
While the clean-up from the devastating September wind storm continues, a tree grant from the PA Urban & Community Forestry Council has gifted the park with seven new trees. On the advice of the PA Extension office, the grant will add variety to our tree inventory. Several of the trees are spring blooming while others are noted for their fall colors. The trees have been planted in several areas throughout the park.
Starting at the basketball court entrance, a large sycamore and a black walnut have been replaced with a Kentucky Coffee Tree [Gymnocladus diocus] and a Miyabe Maple [Acer miyabei "state street"]. Further on down by the Friends of the Park monument stands a Japanese Tree Lilac [Syringa reticulate "ivory silk"] Walking around the park you will find a Spring Wonder Cherry [Prunus sargentii "spring wonder"] planted next to a park bench and an Amur Maple [Acer ginnala "ruby slippers"] in front of Pavillion 1. The last two trees, a hackberry [ Celtis 'magnifica' occidentalis] and a deciduous conifer known as a Dawn Redwood [Metasequoia glyptotroboides], have been placed along the park side of the old tennis court.
The Borough is excited about our new acquisitions and invite you to take note of the trees when you visit the park. We ask that you help us protect them so that we may watch them grow and bloom for years to come.
For further information about our trees, visit:
Kentucky coffee Tree https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a872
Miyabe Maple https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a396
Japanese Tree Lilac www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?
Spring Wonder Cherry http://www.thetreefarm.com/cherry-spring-wonder
Amur Maple www.chicagobotanic.org/plantcollections/plantfinder/acer_ginnala_ruby_slippers--
Hackberry www.ebben.nl/en/treeebb/ceomagni-celtis-magnifica/pdf/
Dawn Redwood www.conifers.org/cu/Metasequoia.php
A large sycamore is toppled 09.22.2021
September 24, 2021
Wind Damage in the Park
Wednesday evening, September 22, a weather event known as straight-line winds downed several large trees blocking the walking trail at one end of the park and severely damaging Pavilion No. 2. The National Weather Service out of Cleveland has determined that a tornado in the borough proper was not involved but acknowledged that these types of winds can be just as damaging. Clean-up of the park may take some time. The Borough asks for patience as tree damage was noted in several other locations about town.
Wind Damage in the Park
Wednesday evening, September 22, a weather event known as straight-line winds downed several large trees blocking the walking trail at one end of the park and severely damaging Pavilion No. 2. The National Weather Service out of Cleveland has determined that a tornado in the borough proper was not involved but acknowledged that these types of winds can be just as damaging. Clean-up of the park may take some time. The Borough asks for patience as tree damage was noted in several other locations about town.
September 17, 2021
The new Bare Root Tree program (PA Urban & Community Forestry Council) aims to assist communities in Pennsylvania with increasing the tree canopy and commitment to urban and community forests. This program provides up to 20 large caliper bare root trees for planting on land owned by a municipality (streets and parks) or non-profit organizations. Mayor Mark Roche and CARE member, Lucy Schall, have applied for the Bare Root Tree grant and have been awarded trees for the Cochranton. The new arrivals will be planted late October/early November at the park, cemetery, elementary school, the high school and at the fairgrounds. We applaud their efforts!
The new Bare Root Tree program (PA Urban & Community Forestry Council) aims to assist communities in Pennsylvania with increasing the tree canopy and commitment to urban and community forests. This program provides up to 20 large caliper bare root trees for planting on land owned by a municipality (streets and parks) or non-profit organizations. Mayor Mark Roche and CARE member, Lucy Schall, have applied for the Bare Root Tree grant and have been awarded trees for the Cochranton. The new arrivals will be planted late October/early November at the park, cemetery, elementary school, the high school and at the fairgrounds. We applaud their efforts!
August 16, 2021
When the nice weather broke in the Spring, Lions Park began to see some activity from Cochranton Borough maintenance and the newly form park committee. While meeting with Scott Sjolander, an Urban Forestry Extension Associate from the Penn State Extension office, plans were made to trim and remove long neglected trees in the park and begin removing some bush that was impacting the walking trail. Mr. Sjolander explained that "a tree is an asset until it is a liability" and unfortunately, many of the trees in question had tipped into that latter category. There had been some questions raised about small sections along the trail being cleared that would potentially harm the habitats of small woodland creatures. Once again, Mr. Sjolander addressed with clarity and reassurances that some clearing was necessary albeit unfortunate. He concurred that the animals in question would no doubt need to relocate but again stated that this was a result of years of neglect. Once the trimming and clearing is done, areas within the park will be looked after with conservation in mind. The committee remains committed to these ideals.
The park is much larger than the area now used for walking, picnicking and child's play. The land itself stretches from Race St. behind the Fire Station to Hwy 322 encompassing over 13 acres. Plans to create addition trails throughout this underdeveloped woodland are being made with conservation and preservation in mind. Trees and understory growth such a ferns and wildflowers will be tagged for educational and preservation purposes.
When the nice weather broke in the Spring, Lions Park began to see some activity from Cochranton Borough maintenance and the newly form park committee. While meeting with Scott Sjolander, an Urban Forestry Extension Associate from the Penn State Extension office, plans were made to trim and remove long neglected trees in the park and begin removing some bush that was impacting the walking trail. Mr. Sjolander explained that "a tree is an asset until it is a liability" and unfortunately, many of the trees in question had tipped into that latter category. There had been some questions raised about small sections along the trail being cleared that would potentially harm the habitats of small woodland creatures. Once again, Mr. Sjolander addressed with clarity and reassurances that some clearing was necessary albeit unfortunate. He concurred that the animals in question would no doubt need to relocate but again stated that this was a result of years of neglect. Once the trimming and clearing is done, areas within the park will be looked after with conservation in mind. The committee remains committed to these ideals.
The park is much larger than the area now used for walking, picnicking and child's play. The land itself stretches from Race St. behind the Fire Station to Hwy 322 encompassing over 13 acres. Plans to create addition trails throughout this underdeveloped woodland are being made with conservation and preservation in mind. Trees and understory growth such a ferns and wildflowers will be tagged for educational and preservation purposes.