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Council advances $175,000 DCED design grant for MLK Trail
Summary
A city committee approved forwarding a $175,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant for design and permitting of a segment of the MLK Trail to the full Allentown City Council.
Allentown City Council members voted to move forward a $175,000 grant appropriation from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to fund design and permitting for a segment of the MLK Trail. The item was advanced from the committee to the regular council meeting by voice vote.
City staff told council members the grant covers design and permitting work to connect the MLK Trail from Leah Parkway through Union Terrace to Cedar, creating a safe travel route from Fountain Park to Cedar Beach. “So this is a grant from DCED, from the state to, do design documents to connect MLK Trail from Leah Parkway through Union Terrace to Cedar,” a city staff member said.
Staff said the grant is for design and permitting, and noted permitting work includes state stormwater reviews and hiring engineers. The staff member said the award would pay for the design phase only but, if there are savings or additional funds, the city could request permission from the awarding agency to apply remaining money to a different phase of the same project, such as construction or a phase that would extend the trail east to the area described in the meeting as Buc Ee Boyle Park.
Councilmembers questioned what the design would produce and how the trail will be built. “We're talking about a trail, like a sidewalk. Sidewalk. What is there to design?” Councilmember Stellino asked. The staff member replied the planned route is not a sidewalk but a separate trail, with many design elements including elevation, materials and stormwater mitigation. The staff member said the intended cross section would be a 10- to 12-foot-wide crushed-gravel path or paved surface depending on costs, and that the trail would be designed to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles.
A motion to move the item forward was made and seconded; the committee approved the referral by voice vote. The record in the transcript shows committee members answered questions from the dais and the public before the voice vote of “Aye.”
The committee also received brief updates on upcoming parks and recreation events, including a comprehensive plan meeting on March 26 at Franklin Park, an all-star basketball weekend, and a community egg hunt planned for April 19.
The appropriation will next appear on the regular Allentown City Council agenda for final action and any additional formal vote.
