Ohiopyle park, road improvements dedicated
A dedication ceremony was held Wednesday morning for the Stewart on the Green Community Park, part of the Smart Transportation initiatives made to Route 381 which cuts through Ohiopyle borough.
Roberto M. Esquivel/HeraldStandard.com
Richard J. Allan, DCNR secretary, comments on the the completion of the Stewart on the Green Community park, Wednesday morning.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, comments on the dedication of Stewart on the Green Community Park as the result of cooperation among local, state and federal officials and agencies.
OHIOPYLE 鈥� Mayor Mark McCarty used a familiar phrase to describe the $2.4 million in community park and transportation improvement projects that were unveiled at a dedication ceremony Wednesday.
McCarty called the upgrades an 鈥渆xtreme makeover鈥�, which was the same phrase he used at last year蘑菇视频 dedication of a $1.3 million storm sewer and streetscape improvement project.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, said the latest projects are the result of cooperation among local, state and federal officials and agencies.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a team effort. Only good things happen when you work as a team,鈥� Shuster said.
Shuster also announced that $75,000 in federal funding has been allocated for the borough to design and plan a new sanitary sewer collection system. He said the required local matching funds are in place.
The borough has to upgrade its sewer lines and treatment plant to prevent rain from causing sewage backups and could eventually be forced to make improvements to comply with state and federal regulations, he said.
Joining Shuster at the dedication were state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Richard Allan; state Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township; Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky; state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 12 executive Joseph Szczur; and Fayette County Redevelopment Authority executive director Andrew French.
The ceremony took place in the Stewart on the Green Community Park, which underwent a $668,469 renovation. The basketball courts were upgraded, swings and other playground equipment was installed and footprints from local wildlife such as deer, raccoons and squirrels were imprinted on a cement walkway around a new gazebo.
The park is two blocks from Route 381, which received $1.8 million in 鈥淪mart Transportation Initiative鈥� enhancements. The project included installing bike lanes and crosswalks, curbs that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, lowering the speed limit, resurfacing and fire truck signal lights.
Allan commended the Ohiopyle State Park staff for running the largest and one of the busiest state parks in Pennsylvania.
The 1.5 million people who visit the park every year contribute $58 million to the local economy, he said.
He said the DCNR is committed to helping the borough deal with the heavy tourist traffic.
The money for the the projects came from the state and numerous foundations and local sources.