After nearly three years, a Norwin Regional Community/Recreation Center has moved past the talking stage and edged closer to reality.

The Norwin Area Recreation Committee Monday endorsed a $30,000 feasibility study proposed by Andrew J.G. Schwartz, managing principal of Environmental Planning & Design.

EPD, a Pittsburgh-based consulting firm, was selected last month by a volunteer committee composed of elected officials from North Huntingdon, Irwin, North Irwin and the Norwin School District, plus representatives of AARP Chapter 3321. Westmoreland County Recreation Department officials had recommended EPD.

The study, which could take eight to 12 months, will be funded by $15,000 state legislative grants from Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-North Huntingdon, and Sen. Bob Regola, R-Hempfield, plus a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"The money's in. It's full speed ahead with the feasibility study," said Roy Lenhart, a nonvoting member of the committee and a fundraiser with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. He has coordinated the community center initiative.

The state designated North Huntingdon as the fiscal agent for the project because it's the most populated of the three communities that make up the district. It will be governed by a seven-member committee that hasn't yet been appointed.

Because the township must apply for all grant funding, the commissioners are required to sign off on the contract with EPD. That approval could come in October.

"I'm sure that all commissioners will agree on formalizing the contract because all of us want to see this project move forward," Commissioner Lee Moffatt said.

Commissioners Chairman Dave Herold said: "The Norwin area is a fast-growing community that needs a recreation/community center. The real plus is people of all three communities will have lasting pride that they were involved in a cause to make it reality."

Original plans called for the three towns to contribute a total of $5,000 for the feasibility study, each amount determined by population. The shares proposed were North Huntingdon, $4,300; Irwin, $600; and North Irwin, $100.

The matching funds, however, have been covered by part of the DCNR grant.

Mr. Schwartz outlined a preliminary work, scope, tasks and fees summary that included public participation, which he called "essential" to the project.

Included in the public-participation segment is a cross-section survey of about 15 percent to 25 percent of the population of the Norwin area. Mr. Schwartz estimated 10,000 residents would receive four-page survey forms.

"We must identify programs people may demand, the needs to support various demographic groups, amenities they expect in the center and, of course, location," Mr. Schwartz said.

"This data is essential to determine the type and size of the facility."

The site feasibility phase of the study will identify at least three potential recreation center sites, including overviews and analysis for each, plus potential levels of programming for senior citizens, children and adults.

"I'm happy to see the project moving forward," said committee chairman John Bailes. "We've come a long way through a sea of doubters and naysayers to reach this point. My only regret is that things have gone so slowly."

The center will likely be in North Huntingdon. Irwin and North Irwin do not have the property to accommodate this facility, plus a 200- to 300-space parking lot.

Sites that have been mentioned by committee members are the township-owned 84-acre tract that once housed the Maple Drive-in and the Scull Elementary building, which the school district plans to close next June.

Two concerns with the drive-in property are the location of the public works complex at the northern end, and Robert W. Shuster's plans for a plant to accommodate tool-maker Bolttech Inc. on 15 of the 30 undeveloped acres he owns there.

"In my opinion, an ideal location for a regional community center would be Scull School," Mr. Bailes said. "It's centrally located."