Area communities receive state LSA grants
A number of local communities received state Local Share Account (LSA) grants through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
Among the municipalities receiving LSA funds, generated from gaming revenue, was the city of Washington.
With the $184,500 in funding, city officials intend to renovate Stone Pavilion at Washington Park.
“It’s just kind of deteriorated,” explained DeAnna Martin, park director.
She said the repairs, which include re-laying stone, is an expensive job but will make the pavilion safer for the community.
Martin said another grant request has been made for funding to address issues with water pressure in the restrooms.
Marianna Borough will receive $250,000 to renovate a building at the bottom of Marianna Hill on Mine Road to be used as a new municipal building and community center.
Jeremy Berardinelli, council president, said the borough will move municipal operations from Procasky Road to an old mine building located on 110 acres purchased from Bethlehem Mines Corp in 2012. It was one of three buildings involved in the purchase.
“We have no parking up here, space is limited,” Berardinelli said. “We can preserve an old mine building, so it’s definitely a win-win. We’re trying to save those buildings because they don’t make them like that anymore.”
Berardinelli added that there isn’t much for area youth to do in Marianna, so a community center could feel that void.
“We’re off the beaten path and some of the kids don’t have transportation to get them places,” he said. “We’re trying to give them a positive place to congregate. We hope to have a half-court basketball court, somewhere they can play ping-pong, a place where they can go in the winter. We’re trying to do something positive.”
The council president said the borough has received funding from multiple sources for the project and has $640,000 for work he hopes will carry a price tag of about $500,000.
Beradinelli said he hopes to have the new building ready to go by late 2026 or early 2027.
Peters Township is receiving $500,000 for improvements to Peterswood Park Field 1.
Paul Lauer, township manager, explained the plan is to install a turf infield at the park’s large baseball field.
“There’s already some work being done there,” Lauer said. “What this will allow us to do is put a turf infield in, so that the field will be available for use by different ages. It will be more available for use during periods of inclement weather.”
The township also is receiving $300,000 for upgrades to the Brush Run Sewer System.
Mt. Pleasant Township was awarded $336,787 to update a variety of buildings and equipment at four community parks.
Darla Protch, township manager, said the work will include two new dugouts with concrete floors, a system to keep balls from flying into the parking lot, new roofs on the storage building/concession stand and pavilion, drainage improvements, new playground equipment at two township parks and the installation of concrete sidewalks.
“I also was able to secure a county LSA grant so more of our wish list items are going to that grant,” she said. “I’m hoping by the time we get all of this work done our parks will be greatly improved.”
Other communities receiving grants include:
Greene County:
Center Township – $850,000 for a sanitary sewer project.
Washington County:
Claysville Borough – $40,000 to complete the engineering and design to relocate or bury overhead power lines.
East Bethlehem Township – $743,210 to demolish two blighted structures.
Jefferson Township – $305,958 to purchase a force feed belt loader to be used in Cross Creek and Jefferson townships.
Morris Township – $38,017 to complete a wastewater treatment plant planning project.
Union Township – $133,769 to replace the Snee Road Bridge.
Chartiers Township – $375,000 to install a new section of pressure sewer in the Arden Mines community.
Houston Borough – $136,900 to replace and update traffic signals at the intersections of Main and Pike streets and Pike Street and Western Avenue.
McDonald Borough – $185,000 for improvements to Heritage Park, including ADA-compliant bathrooms, a band shell, associated utility connections and site preparations.
Washington County Redevelopment Authority – $135,000 to replace “call for aid” pull cords in three senior housing facilities.
Carroll Township Authority – $200,000 for a sewer lateral rehabilitation project in the Victory Hills and Craven Hills areas.
North Franklin Township – $750,000 for construction, engineering and administrative costs to expand public sewer services.