Easton park to benefit from $100,000 state grant

HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 – State Rep. Robert Freeman said the city of Easton was awarded a $100,000 Greenways, Trails and Recreation grant today for Phase 2 rehabilitation of Vanderveer Park located in the city.

“This grant is good news for the city of Easton and the West Ward neighborhood in particular. It will bring important improvements to Vanderveer Park, which is enjoyed by so many of the students at Paxinosa Elementary school and neighborhood residents and provides needed green space to the West Ward. It’s always nice to see state funding going to worthwhile recreational amenities that so greatly benefit a community and enhances the quality of life in a neighborhood,” Freeman said.

Phase 2 of the project will include site preparation on the west side of the park to ready the site for the larger greenspace. This new greenspace will be 5 times larger than the existing greenspace and will include an ADA walking path, trash cans, benches and native shade trees and bushes. Phase 2 will also include six bollards and ADA ramps for the crosswalk to Paxinosa Elementary to allow for safer crossing for students when they use the park during the school day.

Freeman said the grant was approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development that administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. You can learn more about their programs here.