CRA updates Millville waterfront park, cemetery rehab and weighs $450,000 use for resurfacing or sidewalk repairs

City staff provided the CRA board with status updates and budget figures for multiple Millville-area projects and asked the board for direction on how to use $450,000 allocated for next fiscal year.

Staff reported the Millville Waterfront Park project has a total budget of $1.5 million and about $874,000 expended so far. Grants include a USDA tree grant of $76,500 and a $7,500 donation of pergolas from the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors. Staff said the amphitheater brickwork, handrails, concrete and lighting are expected to be finished within about three weeks and the parking area will be widened and restriped in late October; bathrooms are planned to be built in-house this winter. The project is “on track to wrap up by the end of the first quarter 2026,” staff said.

Henry Davis Park improvements have a budget of $125,000 with about $86,000 expended to date; staff listed completed items including a pavilion, Gaga pit, added sidewalks, shade installations and a planned Kiwanis playground installation in late February 2026.

Staff described a volunteer-led rehabilitation of historic Millville Cemetery with an estimated budget of $15,000 to supply paint and materials; more than 100 volunteers from local churches and organizations are expected on an October 25 volunteer day to repaint fencing and begin grounds beautification.

The board also discussed a $450,000 allocation related to a potential Third Street bond project (estimated total bond cost previously at about $3.5 million). Staff presented options: (1) move ahead with the full bond project (sidewalk widening, infrastructure and resurfacing), (2) use $450,000 for targeted mill-and-resurface street resurfacing that would cover about a half mile of roadway, (3) spend the money on sidewalk repairs, or (4) invest in forming an in-house asphalt paving crew or interlocal agreement with public works (a larger, longer-term expense). Commissioners suggested using the CRA allocation as match for competitive grants, layered with CDBG or legislative appropriations, to expand available funds.

Other Millville items with budgets discussed included East Fifth Street beautification ($20,000; about $12,000 expended), Beck Avenue DOT beautification (grant $500,000; CRA budget line $520,000), and a small parks/public-art and event security funding list. Commissioners asked staff to continue developing options and pursue grant opportunities to stretch the CRA allocation.

No formal vote was recorded; staff said the item would be returned for formal direction at future meetings.