Hopwood group receives grant for enhancement program
Wide sidewalks are cast in shadows under a canopy of trees, with the soft hiss and glow of gaslights to illuminate the way for foot travelers. It may sound like an image from the distant past, but that is exactly what the Hopwood Village Project envisions for the bright future of their small town along Route 40 at the base of Summit Mountain.
And with a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation, the group is on its way to seeing the dream become reality.
As part of the transportation enhancement program, PennDOT awarded the Hopwood Village Project the funds to begin creating its scenic corridor along Route 40, the National Road, which acts as a dividing line in the town between South Union and North Union townships.
Project planner Tammy Shell said the project involves expanding sidewalk areas on both sides of the National Pike, planting scenic shade trees and installing period style gaslights. The lights will be styled after the popular models used by municipalities in the late 1800s, she said.
In an effort to get the ball rolling on the work, the Hopwood Village Project opted to forge ahead by continuing fund-raisers while making as many grant applications as possible.
Their newest endeavor is the Adopt-A-Light Program. Because of the huge anticipated construction cost, the group went from the earlier design that would have all of the lights on a separate gas and electric line system to one that would involve local businesses and homeowners along the Route 40 corridor sponsoring a light. Under the new plan, the light in front of a home or business will be purchased and maintained by the property owner.
At the last meeting, streetscape committee chairman Harry McElroy announced that the
Adopt-A-Light Program is going well. To date 14 lights have been purchased, and six more purchase commitments are on file for the end of April. McElroy noted that meetings with PennDOT officials indicated that the state is pleased with what the project members have accomplished so far.
Even with this latest grant, the group isn’t standing still but has forged ahead with another grant application to the state, as well as an application in to the National Road Heritage Park program.
But while they wait for the results on those grant awards later this summer, the group continues to plan and raise money to help light up the town.