Zelie announces comprehensive plan update, charts Four Corners Park renewal
ZELIENOPLE — The borough will discuss its future with residents during the next five to 10 years, starting later this year.
On Monday night, the council approved the creation of a new comprehensive plan to begin in late 2022 and early 2023. The plan will follow an implementable model, rather than a traditional one, meaning that the public will drive much of the decision-making involved, according to the council.
Also at the meeting, the council agreed to advance plans to revitalize Four Corners Park. The park, at the entrance of the borough, helps form a corridor where cultural events happen and vendors trade their wares throughout the festival season.
Engineering firm Gannett Fleming will meet with borough officials to draft these plans as part of the borough’s Main Street renewal program.
“What we’re trying to do is reconfigure that and make it more useful, make it more modern, try to make sure that the space is better utilized going into the future,” said Borough Manager Don Pepe.
Gannett Fleming has not yet submitted a design plan, but Pepe estimates costs for the plans at around $1,200. It’s not yet possible to estimate construction costs, so the project’s total cost is unknown.
Borough clerk Shalaine Marchwinski received a five-year service award from the council Monday. This award recognized her exemplary service as a billing agent for the borough’s utility provider.
“She took over our utility billing process and deals with the public, day in and day out, in as friendly a way as possible,” Pepe said of Marchwinski. “People aren’t happy to have to pay bills. And she’s a young gal who has done just a marvelous job for us, in not only maintaining our billing structure — which is critical — but at the same time, she deals with the public in a wonderful, kind, compassionate matter.”
The borough also set Dec. 18 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. as the time for the Get Fit Families Reindeer Race event, which will launch from Zelienople Community Park at 402 E. Beaver St.
Sign-up for the 5K run begins at $25 per participant, with discounts available for families. Prices will rise to $30 per participant after Oct. 31. Proceeds from the event will go to Get Fit Families, which promotes exercise to improve mental and physical health for families.