Lock Haven Gets Major Grant

$452,446 Streetscape Award

LOCK HAVEN — Another block of the downtown will soon see a major makeover.

State Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton/Centre) came to Monday’s city council meeting, carrying with him a replica check representing $452,446 in funding from the state’s Keystone Communities Program.

The money will be used to complete streetscape improvements along a one block area on E. Water Street from N. Grove to Vesper Streets.

The work will be bridged with a second Water Street block, from Jay to Grove Street, which had already qualified for state funding under a transportation program.

Work for both will consist of low mount street lights (similar to those on downtown city side streets), full-width herringbone brick pattern sidewalks, trees, tree grates and curbing.

Mayor Rick Vilello noted the downtown beautification program began in 1999 when Jake Corman was the county’s state senator and Hanna was the representative. 13 blocks have been completed thus far.

Vilello said the two Water Street blocks will be bid together with the work to begin this year.

The latest improvements will be the seventh phase of the Downtown Streetscape Program.

The city already has plans to do a similar treatment on E. Church Street as funds become available in the future.

“Projects like this one in Lock Haven help to revitalize the grown communities throughout Pennsylvania,” said Hanna. “I’m glad that such a large grant was provided so the local work could be completed.”

The money was provided by the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

City council also went on record in support of designation of Lock Haven as a “River Town” through the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.\

Vilello said such a designation has no “downside” and ties in with work the city has done over the years in cultivating its relationship with the Susquehanna River.

It was reported a public meeting on the program will be held Mar. 27 at the Durrwachter Center on the Lock Haven University campus.