Nelsonville receives $500K neighborhood grant

NELSONVILLE — The city of Nelsonville has received a $500,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant, which will focus on improved mobility and safety when traveling through some streets as well as improvements to Polley Field Park.

The grant, awarded through and administered by Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP), involves $50,000 in administrative costs. However, Athens County Commissioners are contributing $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding, while the city of Nelsonville is providing a project match of $100,000.

That means total funding for neighborhood revitalization is set at $600,000, a boon for the city as the grant application process to HAPCAP was competitive and involved other local communities, City Manager Charles Barga said.

The streets involved in the Neighborhood Revitalization Project area involve Watkins Street, where Polley Field park is located, along with Desteiguer, Chestnut, Canal, Poplar, and Second Streets. Some streets, like a portion of Chestnut Street that is between Desteiguer and Second Streets, will benefit from more than $200,000 in sidewalk improvements involving installation of nearly 14,000 square feet of sidewalk.

Other streets will improve from fire hydrant and watch valve replacements totaling about $25,000; storm drains, catch basins and curb improvements of nearly $22,000; 1,640 linear feet of bike lanes on Desteiguer and Watkins streets with crossing lane signals and controllers estimated at $50,000; and street improvements on Canal Street including crossing lane signals and controllers to cost about $50,000.

In addition, nearly $163,000 in repairs to Polley Field park is part of neighborhood revitalization. Those improvements will involve installation of 15 high efficiency LED street lights with 22-foot high posts, and several security cameras with remote monitoring capabilities.

The city previously initiated a survey to affected residents of the project, who meet low- and moderate-income guidelines in an affected area of revitalization with about 1,600 residents, according to a project description provided by Barga.

A sewer system improvement will involve replacement of a crumbling man hole in the middle of Chestnut Street, which has been causing the road to collapse around it. The project will also involve replacement of three failed fire hydrants. The city has 13 fire hydrants in total that are in need of repairs or replacing.

Project costs estimates for neighborhood revitalization were provided by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., of Logan.

The city will also be using nearly $20,000 in Nature Works grant funding from the state to continue other improvements to Polley Field. A repaved basketball court, parking area will soon become a reality, and work on re-opening public restrooms at the old pool house will begin soon, Barga said.