Ellwood City Council members unanimously voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to DCNR in an amount of $250,000 for improvements to Stiefel Park.
According to Borough Manager, David Allen, the grant will require matching funds by the borough. He said showing the matching funds to the DCNR will not be a problem with help from Marcellus Shale funds as well as the Park Improvement Fund.
Allen said much of borough’s obligation to match the $250,000 will be able to be offset with use of borough labor and equipment. He estimates that 50 to 70% of the cost can be offset just with borough equipment rentals alone.
Cost can also be mitigated by using borough employee labor. Work and improvements can be done on borough employee time.
“It can be part of their daily duties,” he said.
The plan, according to Allen, is to match funds in two years. The first year the borough will match $125,00 and will do the same in year two.
Allen said he is hopeful that Ellwood City will receive the grant.
“This is a very competitive grant,” according to Allen. “And it’s for a lot of money.”
If the borough wins the grant, Allen projects work will begin in the fall.
Stiefel Park, a 69-acre piece of land, was purchased in 1942, by Ellwood City from North Sewickley Township for use as a park and has been maintained as Stiefel Park since. Currently, the park is home to a number of fields including the softball field where the Lincoln High School softball teams compete.
The park conditions have declined over the years leaving drainage issues and other wear.
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