Two Bradford area projects have been tapped to receive about $1
million each in funding from the state.

According to a release from Gov. Ed Rendell’s office, Impact
Bradford and the Main Street Streetscape Project together will be
the recipient of $1 million for community improvements, while the
Tuna Valley Trails Association will receive $1,267,300 for the
Community Parks Trail.

“That’s excellent,” said Rick Esch, president of the Trails
Association on Friday. He had not known about the approval of the
funding until being contacted by The Era.

Describing what the funding will be used for, Esch said, “It’s
part of the master plan for the Tuna Valley Trails. It’s an
extension of the Richard E. McDowell Community Trail. This project
would extend the trail in two directions.”

The proposed trail will run from Onofrio Street along the flood
control project, down Barbour Street and across Mechanic Street.
There, the TVTA plans to rebuild a foot bridge across the
Tunungwant Creek at Pine Street.

From there, the trail would go to Charlotte Avenue along the
flood control project to Hanley Park.

Extending the McDowell Trail in the other direction, the
proposal is for the Community Trail to go across the Kessel
Athletic Complex, across West Washington Street, to Callahan Park,
towards Bradford Regional Medical Center to School Street, and then
to Walker Avenue and over to Hanley Park, making a 2.9 mile
loop.

“It connects the recreation areas with the schools,” Esch
explained. The funding approved by the state will allow the project
to move into the design phase, he added.

“It’s hard to tell how much we’ll be able to do,” he said,
adding the TVTA hopes to be able to finish the entire loop.

Official notification of the approval of funding has yet to come
to either the TVTA or to the Bradford Office of Economic and
Community Development.

“It does appear that they have approved that funding,” said
Debbie Huston of the OECD, referring to the release from the
governor’s office regarding Impact Bradford and Streetscape
funds.

“This year we applied for additional funding for the project,”
she explained. “Costs have increased for just about
everything.”

The funding is to “enhance the beautification of two historic
buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” and
for the relocation of overhead utility lines above Boylston and
Kennedy streets underground, according to the press release.

“The overhead wires on Boylston and Kennedy streets are so
obtrusive,” Huston said. “They are so expensive to put the
overheads underground, we decided when we first applied not to
attempt it.”

However, a committee of volunteers – including Esch – has been
advising on the project and urged the OECD to try to get the money
to move the wires.

“Mike Glesk and I were adamant about this,” Esch said, adding
“those ugly telephone poles and transformers” could be removed to
add to the beauty of the area that contains the renovated Old City
Hall and Pennzoil Building.

Huston said there’s been about $11 million in investment in that
area, and removing the wires from view will add to the appearance
of the neighborhood.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” she said.

Also in the project, the OECD plans to include enhancements to
the Rufus Barrett Stone House at the corner of East Washington and
Pine streets, to Old City Hall and to the Pennzoil Building.

“There will also be some landscaping around Old City Hall,” she
said.

She explained the funding is a grant, but it is in the form of a
reimbursement agreement.

“You spend the funds and then get reimbursed,” she said. “It’s
over two million dollars for the city.

“I think we fared quite well.”