Legendary Steelers running back Franco Harris, one of Sewickley’s own, sported the number 32.
The athlete is known for arguably the most iconic play in the National Football League — the Immaculate Reception — when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders on a touchdown play that is still talked about more than five decades later.
A park in his honor is in progress — and will encompass 32 acres.
Franco Harris Memorial Park will be mostly in Glen Osborne with a portion in Aleppo.
“Franco performed the greatest play in the NFL,” said Jim Fitzgerald of Ambridge, who is donating some of the land for the project. “Franco lived in this community. He will always be part of this city’s legacy on and off the field.”
But for this to happen, they first need a lead gift — a $750,000 donation that serves as an anchor for a capital campaign.
That gift should cover the value of a little less than 10 acres. Capital campaigns usually need a 20% or 30% lead gift to be successful, Fitzgerald said. They are in discussions with an organization for a lead monetary gift, which would give the donor naming rights. The donor can decide to have its name in the title and on the sign at the park.
Once they get that amount, the fundraising can go to the public phase.
Fitzgerald’s ministry, Watchword Worldwide, owns 36 acres where the park will be and plans to donate 10 to 16 acres. “Lead gifts create momentum — people like to get aboard a moving train,” he said.
The acreage begins along Glen Mitchell Road and could extend to Sycamore Road, where Fitzgerald grew up, if all of the land is sponsored. They plan to reclaim and improve a creek on the property as part of the park design. The park most likely will include parking, trails, educational gardens featuring local trees and other flora, benches, tables, a pavilion, a small hillside amphitheater and a centrally located statue of Harris.
The cost is $160,000 an acre. One of the sponsors so far is 84 Lumber.
“84 Lumber is honored and proud to be a part of this campaign,” 84 Lumber owner and CEO Maggie Hardy said in a statement. “We’re happy to play a role in preserving Franco’s memory and ensuring that this park helps preserve his story for future generations.”
Current Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth also has agreed to contribute to the Franco Harris Memorial Park campaign, Fitzgerald said.
Franco Harris Memorial Park is registered as a nonprofit doing business under Watchword Worldwide, a ministry Fitzgerald created in 1991 with a vision to put the Bible on video.
Fitzgerald discussed his idea with Dana Harris and the couple’s son, Franco “Dok” Dokmanovich Harris, about utilizing this green space to honor the late Hall of Famer.
From the pinnacle of the park, the Sewickley Bridge and Ohio River are visible.
“The park is something special,” Dok Harris said. “My dad loved to interact with people wherever he went. What I love about the park are the trails and what sold me on it are the views — the views are unbelievable. For people to be able to walk around and enjoy the park — my dad would have loved that.”
Franco Harris died at age 72 on Dec. 20, 2022, just days before the team was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his famous play. His No. 32 jersey was retired during a ceremony at halftime against the Las Vegas Raiders at Acrisure Stadium. Dok Harris and his mother joined Steelers President Art Rooney II on the field.
“I wish I could have had 48 more hours for my dad to experience that moment,” said Dok Harris, who runs Super Bakery, the Pittsburgh-based business his father started in 1990.
Franco Harris read lots of books about business and wrote notes to his son, who is a Princeton graduate and has a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Dok said the minute he and his parents arrived home from a college visit to Princeton, the football coach was calling. Word got around quickly that Franco Harris’ son was on campus, but football wasn’t for him.
Featured Local Businesses
However, he did follow in his father’s footsteps with business.
“My father always saw an opportunity,” Dok said. “He would use hand gestures to describe things when he talked, kind of like football players do in a huddle. It is an effective way to communicate ideas to people. He was great at that. … He was always authentic.”
Fitzgerald connected with Hollow Oak Land Trust, in Moon Township’s Robin Hill Park, which will design the trails and own the park once it is completed. Some of the terrain analysis has been done, according to Sean Brady, executive director of Hollow Oak Land Trust.
Brady said the art of sustainable trail design is to gain elevation as slowly as possible. Sometimes the deer show the way by creating paths, he said.
There will be green spaces to sit and enjoy the scenery or take a walk, hike or go for a run, Brady said.
“This area has hills and valleys and is a great opportunity to connect the community to a larger trail network,” he said. “This will become a destination.”
Meshing Harris’ legacy both on and off the field is the basis for this park plan, Fitzgerald said. When Fitzgerald went to set up a post office box for correspondence for the park, one of the numbers available was, of course, 32.
“Franco was a great humanitarian,” Fitzgerald said. “He was so approachable. His number 32 is iconic, which is why we decided on 32 acres. What makes this park cool is it is so close to town — people can walk to it.”
Or in Franco Harris style, run to it.
For more information, visit francoharrismemorialpark.com.