HARRISBURG – Grant funding totaling more than $391,000 was awarded Tuesday by the Commonwealth Financing Authority for recreation, community improvement and flood mitigation projects in Armstrong and Indiana counties, announced Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-62), Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63) and Rep. Abby Major (R-60).
In Indiana County, the Homer-Center Parks and Recreation Board will receive a more than $104,000 Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP) grant for removal and replacement of the liner at the Homer City Pool.
“Facilities like this provide recreation and exercise for many people in the area but also require routine maintenance as any swimming pool owner knows,” Struzzi said. “I’m glad we were able to secure this grant for the benefit of local residents who frequent the pool.”
White Township, Indiana County, is also receiving a $100,000 GTRP grant to help fund construction of an amphitheater for its recreation complex, which township supervisors have been seeking to further develop.
“The White Township Recreation Complex offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, and this grant will help them expand those options to include an entertainment and arts center that also has other recreational and educational applications,” Pittman said. “This product, funded by the fees paid by natural gas producers, will generate economic benefit for not only the township, but the county as well.”
Cowanshannock Township, Armstrong County, will receive a $50,843 GTRP grant to renovate Sagamore Playground, which is 23 years old and in need of substantial safety improvements. The work will include the removal and replacement of the existing modular playground unit and four-place swing set, installation of safety surfacing and renovation of the existing picnic pavilion.
“Outdoor activity has become even more vital since the COVID-19 pandemic, so ensuring there are opportunities in every community is important,” said Pittman. “The rehabilitation work will ensure the playground that has served residents of Cowanshannock Township for the past two decades will do so for another twenty years.”
A $39,418 GTRP grant will be used by Armstrong County’s Rural Valley Borough to install in the town center a three-tier wall made from a local landmark, a cement platform for a new flagpole with lighting and the planting of trees.
“I applaud these townships for responding to their communities’ needs, whether it is a safer playground in Sagamore to benefit local youth, or upgrades to the town center in Rural Valley,” Oberlander said. “These projects seek to make long-term improvements which are greatly needed, and that’s why Act 13 was established, in order to invest more money into our communities.”
Fort Run Park in Manor Township, Armstrong County, will get a new ADA-compliant walkway from its baseball field dugout areas to an ADA parking area as part of a project that received a $50,000 GTRP grant. The rehabilitation work will also include replacing the park’s deteriorating chain-link fence with new fencing that has gates with adequate width.
“All people should be able to attend and participate in activities no matter their mobility,” said Major. “The walkway will ensure that barriers to access have been removed. In addition, the new fencing will improve access, make it safer and enhance the park.”
Lastly, needed maintenance and repairs to a portion of the Allegheny River floodwall in Armstrong County’s Kittanning Borough will receive a $47,000 Flood Mitigation Program (FMP) grant. The project will focus on flap valves, storm pipe and the removal of invasive vegetation and trees on the eastern bank of the Allegheny River at North Water Street, from Allegheny River Lock to Ewing Street.
“The floodwall was originally built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 1941, and it stands to reason it will have deteriorated after several decades. A recent inspection by the USACE Pittsburgh District rated the floodwall’s condition as ‘unacceptable,’” Pittman said. “This funding will help the borough provide the necessary maintenance and repairs to the items identified by the USACE.”
Act 13 of 2012 established the Marcellus Legacy Fund from which funds are allocated to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for various programs including the GTRP and the FMP.
Contacts: Jeremy Dias (Sen. Pittman) jdias@pasen.gov
Scott Little (Rep. Struzzi) Slittle@pahousegop.com
Jennifer Keaton (Rep. Oberlander) Jkeaton@pahousegop.com
Tracy Polovick (Rep. Major) Tpolovick@pahousegop.com