Norristown, PA – October 22, 2024 – Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti today announced $4,441,247 awarded to District 17 in state grants through the Local Share Account (LSA) program administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
“The funding that we disperse through the LSA program is unique in that we are able to invest in a variety of community projects that fit the particular needs of each District,” said Senator Cappelletti. “In District Seventeen, this round of projects not only supports our vitally important emergency response services, but also invests in the health and wellbeing of our neighborhoods by renovating green spaces and improving our infrastructure. I’m excited to see how this funding benefits our communities for years to come.”
The awarded funding is as follows:
Outdoors, Parks, and Recreation:
Ardmore Business District Authority (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Tim Briggs) – awarded $27,241 for the purchase and installation of benches in the Ardmore Business District located in Lower Marion Township, Montgomery County. The benches will foster inclusion and community throughout the downtown area. LSA funds will be used for the purchase and installation of equipment.
Haverford Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Greg Vitali) – awarded $850,000 for the construction of Brookline Park located in Haverford Township, Delaware County. Haverford Township is planning to develop and construct a new neighborhood park on the site of the former Brookline Elementary School. The park will be 2-acres in size and serve the 50,000 residents of Haverford Township. LSA funds will be used for construction costs.
Haverford Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Greg Vitali) – awarded $400,000 to extend Darby Creek Trail located in Haverford Township, Delaware County. Haverford Township is planning to extend Darby Creek Trail south from Merry Place Park to McDonald Park. The trail currently attracts approximately 6,000 users per month during warmer months. The upcoming safety improvements to the Burmont and Glendale intersections will allow easier access to this trail for thousands of residents in the neighborhood east of the proposed trail alignment. LSA funds will be used for construction costs.
Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Gregory Scott) – awarded $150,000 on behalf of Norristown Zoological Society d/b/a Elmwood Park Zoo, for the purchase of vehicles to be used in Norristown Borough, Montgomery County. The project will purchase vehicles for use by Elmwood Park Zoo’s staff to traverse over 16 acres on a non-stop rotation. The project will assist zookeepers haul hundreds-of-pounds-of-waste, deliver new bedding and distribute fresh water and nutritious diets continuously to over 100 animals. Additional vehicles will assist the maintenance and custodial staff members complete their responsibilities around the site as well. The project will purchase gasoline and electric crew vehicles, shuttles, and maintenance vehicles. LSA funds will be for the purchase of vehicles.
Upper Merion Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Tim Briggs) – awarded $600,000 for a trail design and engineering project located in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. This project will include design and engineering efforts for the proposed Moore Road Multimodal Trail and Linear Park. Tasks include topographic surveying, trail design, stormwater management, structural design, a hydraulic/hydrologic study, lighting design, archaeology efforts, wetlands delineation, and permitting. The completion of this project will put the township one step closer to having a new walking trail and park for resident’s enjoyment. LSA funds will be used for professional services costs.
West Conshohocken Borough (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Tim Briggs) – awarded $500,000 for park improvements to MacKenzie Park located in West Conshohocken Borough, Montgomery County. The project will make improvements to MacKenzie park which currently provides limited recreational activities with a dilapidated baseball field, outdated playground equipment, antiquated site furnishings, deficient ADA facilities and inadequate site lighting. This project, Phase 2 of a multi-phased project, will include stormwater management improvements, a water line and ADA drinking fountains, site lighting, a 6′ wide asphalt walking trail access to connect the park entrance to the multi-purpose trail in the park, a new pavilion and attached storage building, and new basketball courts with fencing. When this phase is completed, it will allow for the continued redevelopment of this park into a community recreational asset. LSA funds will be used for construction, engineering, and administrative costs.
West Norriton Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Matthew Bradford, Rep. Joe Webster) – awarded $200,000 for park improvements to Centennial Park located in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County. Centennial Park is the largest active park completely within West Norriton Township. The proposed project will construct an amphitheater with tiered seating walls and a 20’x30′ covered stage structure. In addition, the project also includes reconstruction of segments of the trail system within the park to provide accessible routes and also the installation of an accessible restroom facility. When completed, the park improvements will allow for township events to be expanded and also provide for a rental facility for local organizations. LSA funds will be used for construction costs.
Emergency Response Services:
East Norriton Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Matthew Bradford) – awarded $340,000 on behalf of Norriton Fire Engine Company, for the purchase of a special service support vehicle for use in East Norriton Township, Montgomery County. Norriton Fire Engine Company conducted a review of their fire service delivery model and determined that a special service support vehicle would help meet the needs of the fire company. The support vehicle can respond to any type of emergency through carrying additional trained members and specialized equipment. The vehicle can also support Fire Police with road closures and has a high ground clearance that allows for offroad emergency response. LSA funds will be used for vehicle purchase.
Upper Merion Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Tim Briggs) – awarded $173,856 on behalf of the Swedesburg Volunteer Fire Company, for renovations to the Swedesburg Fire Hall complex located in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. The proposed project will address issues inside and outside of the fire station. This project will fix to stormwater issues by directing water flow away from the building, repave the parking lot, increase the curb height, and add curb ramps for ADA accessibility. Cameras will also be installed to monitor the parking lot and station fitness room. This project also proposes to replace the fire station’s generator with a larger model and replace an aged and broken HVAC unit. The fire station serves as Upper Merion Township’s emergency shelter, necessitating the requested improvements. LSA funds will be used for renovation costs.
Infrastructure Improvements:
East Norriton Plymouth Whitpain Joint Sewer Authority (Sen. Cappelletti, Sen. Maria Collett, Rep. Matthew Bradford, Rep. Gregory Scott, Rep. Liz Hanbidge) – awarded $49,030 to replace an existing scum concentrator at their wastewater treatment plant in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County. Replacing this scum concentrator will reduce the cost of maintenance on the equipment while continuing to provide effective and efficient wastewater treatment. LSA funds will be used for the purchase of equipment and installation costs.
Norristown Municipal Waste Authority (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Gregory Scott) – awarded $352,766 to renovate a sanitary sewer collection system in Norristown Borough, Montgomery County. NMWA has been experiencing high rates of inflow and infiltration (I&I) within the sanitary sewer collection system, resulting in numerous overflows. A flow monitoring study recommended a phased approach, with Basin 4 identified as a high priority. NMWA is planning to replace Basin 4 sewer piping and manholes and repair damaged sections of Basin 4’s gravity system. These improvements should decrease the volume of I&I entering the sewer system and prevent overflows. LSA funds will be used for construction, engineering, and administration.
Radnor Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Lisa Borowski) – awarded $500,000 for the Radnor Township Clean Energy Advancement Project for the installation of a solar electrical generation system at its municipal building located in Radnor Township, Delaware County. As part of its goal of reaching 100% use of renewable energy by 2050, Radnor Township has proposed installing a solar array on the roof of its municipal building for power generation. The project will necessitate construction of a new roof that can handle the solar array followed by installation of the 180kW system. LSA funds will be used for construction costs.
West Norriton Township (Sen. Cappelletti, Rep. Matthew Bradford, Rep. Joe Webster) – awarded $298,354 for the purchase of a vehicle and upfitting to be used in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County. West Norriton Township is responsible for snow plowing, salting, and collecting leaves and other yard waste from 38 miles of township roadways. The Township is planning to replace an aging dump truck that requires three people to operate with a newer model that is more fuel efficient and only requires two people to operate. In addition to the truck body, the project will include body upfitting and procurement of a leaf box and leaf machine. LSA funds will be used to purchase equipment.
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