Parks & Recreation

The Parks Department is responsible for the care and maintenance of all of the Borough Parks, Trails and playgrounds.   

The most used and most well known park in Oakmont is Riverside Park. In the summer of 2006, Council purchased and installed a lightning detector in this heavily used park to provide the many organizations that use the park a supplemental protective measure to the good judgment that players and coaches should exercise to avoid risks in stormy weather. The following instructions on how to interpret the warnings of the detector can also be found posted at the park. 

LIGHTNING WARNING

Lightning is a severe hazard that must be viewed seriously. Everyone should immediately seek shelter any time they believe lightning threatens them, even if a signal has not been sounded. 

You will be warned by our THOR GUARD Lightning Prediction system, which sounds one 15 second blast of the horn signaling suspension of all activities (if equipped, a strobe light will begin flashing and remain flashing until safe conditions return). You should immediately seek an appropriate, safe shelter. 

You may resume activities only after three 5 second blasts of the horn are sounded and the strobe light, if equipped, stops flashing. 

If you remain outdoors after the warning is issued, you do so at your own risk!!! 

 

Lightning Safety Tips

Seek…

  • Large Buildings
  • Lightning Shelters
  • Automobiles/Trucks
  • Tunnels With No Standing Water

When one of the above is not available, Seek…

  • Dense Woods
  • Low Lying Areas

Avoid…

  • Open Areas
  • Water
  • Tall Trees
  • Metal Fences
  • Overhead Wires and Power lines
  • High Ground Areas
  • Telephones & Cellular Phones
  • Radios
  • Small, Unprotected Shelters