Butler County to seek grant to renovate Diamond Park
The Butler County commissioners voted to apply for a grant of up to $800,000 to renovate Diamond Park on Main Street in downtown Butler.
The commissioners voted on Wednesday, Nov. 14, to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for up to $800,000 through the Main Street Matters program.
Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said plans call for removing the fountain and replacing with a gazebo, and upgrades to lighting and landscaping. The project ties into the city’s recent Main Street revitalization.
Lance Welliver, county parks and recreation director, told the commissions that Mark Gordon, chief of economic and community development, and Delta Development Group, the county’s planning consultant, helped complete the state application.
On Thursday, Butler Mayor Bod Dandoy said many people ask him about Diamond Park even though it is owned by the county.
“I’m excited about any good thing that happens downtown,” Dandoy said.
The commissioners are also planning to have a management plan for Alameda Park and property across the street from the Sunnyview complex by the end of February next year.
An $8,500 professional services agreement to develop the plan with Anundson and O’Barto Consulting Foresters was approved by the commissioners.
The agreement calls for the plan, which is due Feb. 28, to cover all aspects of the park including timber production, aesthetics, wildlife, recreation and invasive species control, and include the delineation of stands of trees, maps, aerial photos and topographical maps.
Osche said the county will ask Penn State Extension to help evaluate the plan after it is completed.
The commissions have been trying to address timber at the park since January when they voted to request proposals for a consultant to select trees to be cut and sold in Alameda Park and the Sunnyview complex.
In March, the commissioners took no action on a proposal from Anundson and O’Barto to plan timber harvests at Alameda Park and Sunnyview.
In July, the commissioners approved a motion to develop a forestry plan in conjunction with the county parks and recreation department using recognized timbering experts, and that the issue will be brought before the commissioners within four months.
