Work on Clarion’s new Second Avenue Park is well under way, but there is some doubt as to who will actually operate the park.
Jim Crooks, owner of F.L. Crooks & Co. and a member of the Clarion Blueprint Community, said at Tuesday’s Clarion Borough Council meeting there has been some discussion about the management of the new park.
“We are beginning to think about that,” Crooks told council. “It is up in the air. The blueprint committee can’t operate it. Perhaps the borough, county, the (PennWest-Clarion) university or the YMCA would be interested.”
“One thing is certain,” said Crooks. “It will have an impact on the community.”
It was announced in December 2021 that the state Department of Community and Economic Development had awarded Clarion County Adventures $590,000 for the Second Avenue park project.
Funds were secured from the same source the previous year to cover the costs of the first phase, which involved engineering and design work as well as infrastructure work on the site.
Clarion County Adventures LLC was formed under The Children’s Scholarship Fund of Pennsylvania. Clarion County Adventures aims to “bring families together through opportunities to learn and enjoy the scenic outdoors.”
The project was awarded the grant under the special priorities program branch of the Neighborhood Assistance Program. The program targets specific problems and priorities in distressed areas as determined by the state.
The second phase will cover such things as paving, sidewalks, lighting and playground equipment. Future phases include a splash pad/ice rink, sports courts, outdoor games, ADA-compliant restrooms and water fountains.
Developed by FHL Bank Pittsburgh, the Blueprint Community initiative was created with the goals of building strong local leadership, developing local and regional planning skills and encouraging coordinated investments in targeted communities by public and private funders.
Clarion has been a Blueprint Community since 2014.
Crooks also reported for the Destination Clarion Downtown project at Tuesday’s meeting. He said downtown looked “amazing” and he thanked the borough’s department of public works for the Main Street ornaments, the VFW and American Legion for the trees in the park, and the borough for the free parking during the holiday season.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, council approved a tax anticipation note in the amount of $300,000. The note has an interest rate of 5.25 percent, an increase over last year’s 1.95 percent rate.
Lapinto said the tax anticipation note is for emergencies and wasn’t used at all last year. The borough would pay interest only on the amount actually used by the borough.
Council also unanimously approved its franchise agreement with Comcast and unanimously amended certain provisions of the rental property ordinance to include short-term rentals. Those rentals must now be licensed and inspected.
Lapinto thanked emergency responders, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and police for their efforts during the frigid weekend leading up to and including Christmas.
And borough mayor Jennifer Fulmer Vinson said advertisements for a new director at Clarion Free Library have been circulated.