Mayor, organizers tout downtown revitalization as grants, events fund sidewalks, lighting and park projects

Mayor DeStefano used the meeting to highlight recent downtown investment and to thank organizers and volunteers for events that have helped the city raise funds for improvements.

The mayor said the city received $10,000,000 through the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and that those funds have leveraged additional public and private investment. He told the council the city has completed or is maintaining multiple downtown projects—streetscape work, trees and landscaping, sidewalks and parking-lot improvements—and said the investments are drawing new businesses downtown.

DeStefano said the city has applied for a $20,000,000 grant to fund new sidewalks that would extend beyond the downtown core and that total infrastructure spending tied to downtown efforts reached "just the 1 program was $31,000,000, most of it grant funded." He credited past and present state officials for support and urged continued partnership.

Run for Downtown director Dave Madden reported record participation in this year's event, saying the weekend drew an estimated 3,500 people downtown and that race proceeds will fund projects including uplighting statues at Wickham and Grove, an additional sidewalk, and electric service for lighting. "We had record numbers of participants...we had record numbers of people downtown for the post race party," Madden said.

Economic development staff reported receiving two County of Orange grants of $4,999 each—one from county tourism to support the race's promotions and mailings and a municipal grant to purchase decorative benches and a litter can for Thrall Park—and a $10,000 legislative grant from State Senator James Skoufis for the Middletown Barbecue and Resource Fair on Sept. 20.

Recreation and parks staff and community partners were recognized for collaborative programs. Recreation Superintendent Raelynn Berthof and departmental staff were thanked for partnering with local business owner Netta Macri (Strawberry Fields) to provide pop-up story times, ice cream donations, and a bathing-suit drive that offered free pool admission to donors—programming the mayor and council described as strengthening community ties.

Why this matters: the combination of state DRI funds, county and legislative grants, and volunteer-driven fundraising is financing visible downtown upgrades and smaller park and event programs. Council members said these investments support economic activity and encourage residents and former residents to return to downtown Middletown.

Ending: City leaders said they will continue to pursue grants and maintain downtown projects, and they encouraged small-business participation in community programming.