Uniontown workers help money go further
The Uniontown Public Works Department is being credited with making the city’s redevelopment authority’s budget stretch a bit further.
The authority’s executive director, Mark Yauger, said part of the city’s state Community Development Block Grant went toward paving Gallatin Avenue, with the cost kept lower by using the city workers and equipment. The public works department was also instrumental in recent work at Bailey Park, Yauger said, where 70 tri-axle truckloads of top soil were recently placed in the outfield, and graded and seeded.
Yauger said public works director Phil Mahoney also has been working on the walking trail at the park, with stone in place in preparation for paving before winter. Yauger said a new restroom that is accessible to those with physical disabilities and concession stand is expected to be constructed at Bailey Park before next spring.
“It will be a full-service park for everyone,” Yauger said.
Yauger said the state grant manager was in Uniontown last week for a three-year monitoring review.
“The state grant manager was very impressed with Maple Street,” Yauger said.
The redevelopment authority has constructed new houses on Maple Street, which are all occupied, and it is now completing construction on a house on Lemon Street, which already has a potential buyer, Yauger said.
“If the economy ever turns around, which I think it will, we could be our own developer,” said Mayor Ed Fike.
“We’re close to that now,” Yauger stated.
Elm Street/Main Street program manager Rebecca Hilton said the Lafayette, East End and Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens groups are working together for Halloween activities, with trick-or-treating set up in those neighborhoods on Oct. 31. Local residents are also being encouraged to participate in the city’s Halloween parade on Oct. 30.
Hilton said the Main Street program is also partnering with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce for ghost tours Oct. 25 and 26.
A Fall Funfest, Pumpkin Drop and 5K walk/run will be held Nov. 16 at the East End United Community Center, 150 Coolspring St.