Several recreational areas in Lebanon city are slated for expansions and sprucing up in 2024 and 2025, and two new projects are about to get underway, a city administrator told City Council on May 23.
Speaking at its monthly pre-council planning meeting, director of administration Melissa Quinones briefed council on the status of recreational projects in the pipeline at Coleman Memorial Park, downtown, and along the Quittapahilla Creek.
All of the projects are being funded through state and federal grants.
Plans released for Downtown Liberty Trail Park
In late 2022, the city announced plans for “Liberty Trail,” an urban greenspace next to City Hall. The project’s footprint will cover Liberty Street, an existing alley, extending one block north and south of Cumberland Street.
Liberty Street between Gannon and Spring streets has been closed to vehicular traffic since the 1960s and is clearly in need of a facelift.
Quinones told council that the city has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to build the project, and that plans have been completed by Cornwall-based Steckbeck Engineering and Lititz-based engineers Derck & Edson.
Quinones said decorative lighting, stamped asphalt walkways, benches, game tables, landscaping, and archways will be installed. The city anticipates completion sometime this fall. The project is currently available for bid on PennBid, with bids due by June 26.
Veterans’ Memorial Walkway to connect to Wengert Memorial Park
Quinones reported that the city has received $25,000 in Marcellus Shale funds through the Lebanon County Commissioners to be used toward improvements to the Veterans’ Memorial Walkway and to connect the walkway with John E. Wengert Memorial Park on West Chestnut Street.
Veterans’ Memorial Walkway runs along the Quittapahilla Creek from 4th to 12th Street. Wengert Park runs along the Quittie in the 1400 through 1600 blocks of Chestnut Street.
In addition to the connector, new benches, picnic tables, trees, and fencing will be installed along along the walkway. Quinones did not give a projected completion date.
Coleman Park to connect to Union Canal Tunnel Park
Quinones told council that the city has obtained funding from the federal Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program to fund the city’s part of a connector trail between Coleman Park and the Union Canal Tunnel Park in North Lebanon Township. The two are about a mile apart.
Plans have been prepared and the city is getting ready to solicit bids. Quinones did not specify a start date.
Read More: Dog park, splash pad in the works at city’s Coleman and Southwest parks
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