West Chester, PA (Marzo 16, 2023) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta announced today that 17 projects to improve outdoor recreation, transportation infrastructure, emergency response and public safety, water and sewer infrastructure, and community revitalization in the 19th District will receive nearly $4.4 million in total state funding.
“These investments support a broad scope of improvements in local communities throughout our region. From improving local parks to supporting public safety to repairing our roads and bridges and more, these projects aim to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life for all residents and families,” Comitta said.
The funding, approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, is as follows:
- $800,000 for the Chester County Economic Development Council in partnership with The Timothy School for the expansion and renovation of the school’s main education building. Upon completion of the project, 10,000 square feet will be added to building and the school will be able to serve 15 more students.
- $500,000 for the City of Coatesville to renovate Chester Ash Memorial Park and develop a main entrance, a paved event space, renovated bathrooms, a splashpad and pavilion with a cooling station, new seating and lighting, utility connections, landscaping, and stormwater management.
- $100,000 for East Bradford Township for upgrades to the Copeland Park Stormwater Management Facility that will provide an additional 90,000 cubic feet to the detention basin with forebays to filter sediment. The improvements are expected to reduce 16 tons of sediment per year.
- $135,000 for East Bradford Township to replace culverts underneath the West Ashbridge Street Bridge over a tributary of Taylor Run. The project calls for replacing two culverts that are near failure and increasing the waterway to accommodate current higher flows. Additional improvements include installing modern parapet walls, guide rails, signage, and pavement markings.
- $56,328 for East Fallowfield Township to replace the municipal gas and diesel pump station with a modern and reliable web-based system that will track usage. The current fuel management system, installed more than 40 years ago, is experiencing mechanical issues.
- $100,000 for East Fallowfield Township to install traffic easement circles at two intersections along Route 82 that are heavily traveled by pedestrians and vehicles. The improvements set for Route 82 and Stroud Ave and Route 82 and Doe Run Road aim to calm traffic by including the installation of driver feedback boards to notify drivers of their speed.
- $176,000 for East Goshen Township for stormwater management improvements at Bow Tree Pond. The proposed project will remove sediment through dredging and install plantings, vegetated buffers, and other measures to limit the accumulation of additional sediment. The pond serves as the primary stormwater management area for the Bow Tree 1 development and is fed by an unnamed tributary of the Ridley Creek.
- $100,000 for Modena Borough for new equipment for Modena Fire Company, including two sets of rescue tools and nozzles. The equipment will allow the department to quickly perform life-saving rescue operations.
- $520,546 for Modena Borough for a new fire tanker for Modena Fire Company so that it is fully equipped to respond to fires without having to wait for support from other companies. Currently, Modena lacks a fire tanker and must rely on assistance from other companies.
- $100,000 for Modena Borough for a skid loader, an RTV, and two generators to ensure they can remain up and running during any power failures. The equipment will be used in maintaining four borough parks and to assist with road maintenance.
- $147,060 for Newlin Township for a new backhoe to assist with maintaining township roadways. The new equipment will replace the township’s current backhoe which is approaching its end of use.
- $498,735 for the Oxford Area Sewer Authority for upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant located in Oxford. The project calls for reconfiguring the layout of the facility, designing a new drive and vehicle approach, and modernizing the septage receiving area’s laboratory. The existing septage screening facility is nearly 25 years old and lacks access and sufficient laboratory space.
- $300,000 for the Oxford Area Sewer Authority for waste collection upgrades to the Twin Ponds pump station in East Nottingham. The project will redirect waste from the Grant Street pump station to the Twin Ponds pump station, eliminating the potential public hazards associated with the Grant Street station.
- $500,000 to Penn Township for the development of a sports park with opportunities for active recreation, including walking trails, courts for bocce ball, sand volleyball, pickleball, roller hockey rinks, basketball, and more.
- $100,000 for West Bradford Township for a roundabout at the intersection of Marshallton-Thorndale Road and Poorhouse Road. Construction of the roundabout will alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, and reduce or eliminate traffic signal maintenance costs.
- $610,800 for the West Goshen Sewer Authority for upgrades to the screw pumps at its wastewater treatment plant. The funding will be used for the construction, engineering, and administrative costs of the project.
- $963,945 for West Whiteland Township to rehabilitate the Clover Mill waste pump station. Improvements include the installation of new pumps, motors, valves, and controls, as well as drop gates to block and divert flowers during maintenance operations. The waste station handles approximately 2.4 million gallons a day and was built in 1970 with the latest upgrades installed in 2006.
In addition, $750,000 was awarded to Phoenixville Borough to convert a former industrial property into a recreational gathering space that will also be a home for the historic phoenix wheel. The wheel, a 74-foot Ferris wheel made with Phoenixville steel, sat on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, N.J. for nearly 100 years. One of the world’s first steel Ferris wheels, it was acquired and returned to Phoenixville by the Schuylkill River Heritage Center.
“Returning this piece of Phoenixville’s heritage to place of prominence in the community is a long time coming and I look forward to seeing it become a reality. I want to thank Barbara Cohen of the Schuylkill River Heritage Center for her work and steadfast support of this project,” said Comitta, who represented Phoenixville prior to legislative redistricting.
The funding comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account (LSA) program. LSA, funded by gaming revenue, supports projects that improve the quality of life in the community. Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, and redevelopment authorities.
La Commonwealth Finance Authority se creó en 2004 como agencia independiente del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario y Económico de Pensilvania para administrar los paquetes de estímulo económico de Pensilvania. Tiene responsabilidad fiduciaria sobre la financiación de programas e inversiones en el crecimiento económico de Pensilvania.
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