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City applies for $500,000 DCNR grant to revitalize Mulberry Park; council adopts authorizing resolutions
Summary
Warren City will apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for a $500,000 grant to rehabilitate Mulberry Park, including ADA upgrades, new playground equipment, drainage fixes and an ADA parking area; council approved two required resolutions and pledged local matching funds in the 2026 budget.
Warren City announced on March 12 that it will apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a $500,000 grant to revitalize Mulberry Park and address longstanding drainage and accessibility problems.
City staff said the project scope includes new playground equipment, a new pavilion, benches, sidewalks, grills, lighting, landscape trees and an ADA-accessible parking area. The proposal would also install drainage pipes and erosion- and settlement-control measures to remedy the park’s drainage issues, staff said.
Nut graf: The city’s engineering firm provided an opinion of probable cost of $1,113,296. DCNR grants typically require a 50% local match; the application requests $500,000 and identifies a city match to be included in the 2026 budget.
City staff told council the city’s matching funds would include $483,296 from the general fund included in the 2026 budget, and that the city had received a pledge of $130,000 from a local foundation and expects another $130,000 from an additional funder this spring. The pledged funds, if secured, would reduce the city’s general-fund match requirement to $353,296 in 2026, staff said. Construction under the grant would not occur until 2026 if the application is successful; DCNR awards are typically announced in early fall.
Council received public questions about fallback options if the grant is not awarded. Staff said a contingency or alternative plan has not been finalized and that the city would need to revisit funding and scope if DCNR funds are not secured. Councilor discussion also addressed proposed lighting, sight lines, fencing and off-street parking as part of the park design.
Ending: Council voted unanimously to adopt the two resolutions required by DCNR to submit the grant application. Staff said they will proceed with the DCNR application and circulate design materials and community feedback as the project advances toward engineering and permitting.
