HARRISBURG — More than $1.6 million in state grants have been awarded to four local projects — including an upgrade to Bradford’s Callahan Park.
Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville, announced the grants on Friday. Three of the grants are for roadwork in Kane, Hamlin Township and in Austin Borough in Potter County.
“These grants are all about improving safety and quality of life for people in the 67th Legislative District,” Causer said. “I am pleased to support these important investments in our communities and appreciate the hard work of local officials to put these projects together.”
Dush commented, “These projects are focused on the health, safety and overall well-being of those who live near and use the roads and bridges to be improved, as well as Bradford’s Callahan Park.”
The $213,185 grant was awarded through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program to the City of Bradford. The grant will be used for improvements to Callahan Park, including replacement of old, deteriorated fencing; installation of a welcoming entrance/gateway area leading into the park; new ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps; and new playground equipment.
Bradford City Mayor James McDonald thanked Causer and Dush for their help — “This time that help came in the form of grant money from the Greenways, Trails and Recreational Programs program. With the grants that our (Office of Economic and Community Development) has secured — and assuredly will secure in the future— and the added grant that was just announced, the Callahan Park redesign and rebuild project will see a true community park of the 21st Century,” McDonald said.
“For the first time in decades —maybe ever — Callahan Park will be 100% ADA compliant. This will be made possible by the work that people like Sen. Dush and Rep. Causer have done for us in Harrisburg.”
Other grants included $250,000 for Kane Borough for paving improvements on West Hemlock Avenue, Schoolhouse Drive and West Pine Avenue.
Kane Mayor Brandy Schimp said, “This is great news not only for Kane, but several surrounding communities. The area for the project directly impacts the Kane Area School District, which includes two boroughs, three full municipalities and a small portion of a fourth, spreading over two counties, therefore benefitting citizens driving into the area as well as local residents. In addition to the KASD, the project area includes a local daycare, as well as Kane’s Headstart and will add to the safety of students, parents and residents. Our borough office personnel worked diligently in applying and we are grateful our representatives on the state level selected Kane to receive the funding.”
The remaining grants were for $681,608 to Hamlin Township for rehabilitation of Kushequa Avenue, including milling and repaving a 2.2-mile section of the road from Mount Jewett Borough to Turkey Track; and $518,380 to Austin Borough to replace and upgrade the Elliot Street Bridge, over Freeman Run, by widening the bridge to allow for two-way traffic flow. Elliot Street is a critical route for accessing homes east of Freeman Run in addition to being the only alternative to the Main Street Bridge.
The roadways grants were from the Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The grants were each approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
