Uniontown Redevelopment Authority wants to revamp Marshall Park
Herald-Standard
Uniontown Redevelopment Authority officials hope to revamp Marshall Park in Uniontown, shown in this 2016 file photo. The park is largely green space and is “kind of a sad sight,” said authority Chairman Paul Palya.
Mike Tony | Herald-Standard
Uniontown Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Mark Rafail (left) and board Chairman Paul Palya expressed interest in researching how to revitalize Marshall Park at a regular board meeting Wednesday.
The Uniontown Redevelopment Authority is working on preliminary plans to revamp the city’s Marshall Park.
Authority Chairman Paul Palya said that he and authority Executive Director Mark Rafail were exploring the possibility of beginning a project to revitalize the park, which he called “kind of a sad sight.”
“It’s a park with two benches,” Rafail said. “I just don’t think that’s classified as a park.”
Located on Jefferson Avenue across from the Uniontown Public Library, the park is one of several tributes in the city to Gen. George C. Marshall.
Rafail said that options including grant money and sponsors would be eyed as authority representatives look to push the project forward.
Rafail said he and Mayor Ed Fike talked about potential for a Marshall Park revitalization project four years ago, including fencing the park in as well as adding benches and possibly a stage.
Fike agreed with Palya’s assessment of Marshall Park and approved of pursuing a revitalization project there.
“We’re going to start the ball rolling (and) try to do some research on it,” Palya said.
In other business, the authority approved awarding a $161,379 milling and paving project to Donora-based El Grande Industries, the low bidder on the project, which is slated to include Thomas Street, a portion of Dunlap Street, a portion of Searight Avenue, Evans Street, Hickle Street and Felty Street.
“Once the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) 2017 contract comes in and we’re able to draw the money down, then we will go ahead and look at … other streets,” Rafail explained.
In related business, Rafail reported that the city had to decide what to do with the $296,249 available in 2018 CDBG funding, noting that members of the public had until Sept. 3 to submit requests for what they feel CDBG money should be spent on. Rafail said he would meet with Uniontown City Council to go over recommendations and requests for 2018.
Rafail said that city police Chief Jason Cox had already requested funding to go toward the city’s Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP), adopted via ordinance in Nov. 2016, and that city fire Chief Dane “Buck” Griffith had requested funding for hoses for his department.
“I’d suggest we still maintain some sewer project work … more paving of streets, reconstructing of streets, home rehabilitation,” Rafail added.