Marilla Reservoir and its myriad associated recreational opportunities are a community gem in part because they are open to everyone, and that is about to be even more true.

Bradford City Water and the McKean County Redevelopment authorities have reviewed and approved plans for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvement project at the reservoir.

The project will comprise two ADA-compliant parking spaces and a concrete pedestrian walkway and ramp leading to the popular fishing pier.

Other new business addressed during Bradford City Water Authority’s meeting this week included new storage tank mixers to be installed in both the Big Shanty and Bradford Regional Airport storage tanks. The new equipment will help keep the water circulating and avoid stratification, which can compromise water quality. It also helps avoid ice buildup within the tanks during the cold winter months.

For the Big Shanty tank, the water will not have to be either drained or lowered. The airport tank improvement will include a washout inspection, so that tank will be fully drained.

Work dates for both projects will be determined, Executive Director Steve Disney reported.

Regarding the water treatment plant capital project, the authority is working with Roberts Filters to schedule an on-site pilot test of its proposed clarification method. The authority anticipates hosting the trailer at the end of September.

In joint activities with Bradford Sanitary Authority, in mid-November Bankson Engineers intends to submit on the authorities’ behalf design plans to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for its West Washington Street corridor improvement project. The major 2026 project will require significant changes to the authority’s infrastructure. In the BCWA/BSA meter replacement project, 1,322 customers had scheduled their equipment swap as of Aug. 25.

While delinquencies were steady in July, the authority placed municipal liens against both the OYO Hotel at 153 Main St. and a property owned by Rasheed Deeb at 23 Glenwood Ave.

Additionally, the authority encourages hunters to take advantage of the state’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), which is approved for hunting activities on the Authority’s watershed.

As of Aug. 22, 556 permits out of a total of 800 were still available. Authority lands are in unit number 1996.

Also on the watershed, crews have decommissioned the abandoned reservoir No. 1, which was also situated along West Washington Street, not far from Marilla. The site could potentially be used as a log landing for future timber sales.

The abandoned former No. 1 reservoir, now decommissioned.