State grants totaling more than $250,000 were awarded to two projects to improve outdoor recreation spaces in Schuylkill County, state lawmakers representing the area announced.
A project to make major updates and repairs to the spillway and sluiceway of the Deer Lake Dam was awarded $200,000. The dam serves as the basis of Deer Lake Park, as it creates the lake. The project also includes updating the playground and recreational facilities.
Work to renovate the tennis courts at East Brunswick Township Park was awarded $65,136. The funding will also be used to install a pickleball court.
“This highly competitive state funding will be a significant boost for two local parks that bring our communities together,” state Sen. David G. Argall said in his announcement of the grants. “The last few years have demonstrated more than ever why it is so important to have quality outdoor spaces for us all to enjoy.”
“I’m extremely excited about this grant,” Deer Lake Borough Council President David B. Crouse said in the announcement. “We’ve been working on this for years. It’s going to seal the deal on keeping our community recreational facility open for everyone to enjoy.
Deer Lake Borough Council, the mayor, our engineer Systems Design Engineering, Deer Lake residents and I are appreciative that this has happened.”
Rep. Jamie Barton said the importance of the funding can’t be overstated.
“This money is going toward crucial repairs to the dam’s spillway, which will keep the area safe,” he said in announcing the grants.
“The people in our area work incredibly hard,” Barton said. “The harder we work, the more important it is to have places to go to unwind.”
Both grants were awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority via the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which funds projects to develop, rehabilitate and improve public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trail and rivers. This program is funded through unconventional gas well impact fees.
Source: Berkshire mont
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