Published Monday, June 17, 2002
MERCER COUNTY
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Trout Island Trail, community parks and playgrounds make funding cut
Herald Staff Writer
Local parks projects in Sharpsville, Jackson Center, Jefferson, Hempfield and Wolf Creek townships were approved for state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant funding last week.
The most ambitious of the projects, a trail along the Shenango River in Sharpsville, was OK'd for a $103,000 grant. Other grants will pay for playground equipment and park development.
State Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District, announced the grants in a news release.
Grants from DCNR's Community Conservation Partnership Program -- known as C2P2 -- are earmarked for communities of less than 5,000 people and nonprofit organizations to undertake recreation and conservation projects, according to the agency's Web site.
C2P2 provides up to $25,000 to a community, but under a new amendment to the program, the town can receive more money if they agree to donate time, workers and other resources towards the project. If this is done, C2P2 will match dollar-for-dollar the value of the work, up to $60,000.
"The projects (C2P2) really can bring a community together and establish a facility that can be used later," said Ms. Koch.
"While adults might be introduced to new people building the equipment, it also provides a meeting place for kids to meet people," she said.
The following projects were OK'd for C2P2 funding:
"An upgrade in equipment will really make the park a lot safer," Hittle said. "We also are really looking forward to handicap access to the park. It is all for the little kids."
"We hope to use it (the new facilities) for the annual community picnic," said Gracenin.
"We'd really like to do these tests to find out the recreational needs of the people of this community for the next 15-20 years," said Brandes. "With this money, we can find out what those needs are and make a plan to fit them," he said.
The trail is to run in two main sections: along the Shenango River from the Mercer Avenue parking lot in Sharpsville to the Trout Island Road parking lot on an abandoned railroad bed; and along the old Erie Canal locks in Sharpsville, including a boardwalk, connecting with the Mercer Avenue path.
The eight-foot wide, asphalt pathway will allow walking, bicycling, in-line skating, and skate-boarding, Theiss said. Motorized vehicles won't be permitted on the path. There will be handicap access from the Mercer Avenue parking lot end, allowing wheelchair use of the path.
"This trail will really be great to give the people a place to exercise as well as see the outdoors," said Theiss. "It is a nice get-away from the city," he said.
The starting dates for all the projects are still unknown.