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Pottstown to use new grants for Brookside Park upgrades; manager seeks mini-pitch soccer grant
Summary
Borough Manager Justin Keller reported a $135,300 Montco 2040 grant award for Brookside Park accessibility and adaptive equipment, ongoing hydrant flushing and a phase 3 lead line investigation; staff will also apply for a US Soccer Foundation mini-pitch grant and seek an additional $30,000 grant to supplement Brookside work.
Borough Manager Justin Keller told council on June 4 that Montgomery County’s Montco 2040 program has awarded $135,300 to Brookside Park for adaptive playground equipment and accessibility improvements.
Keller said the borough already has funding from the Health & Wellness Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and that the combined grants will allow the borough to bid the Brookside Park improvements and, if all proceeds, construct in the fall. Keller credited Park Director Tricia McCluskey with helping to secure the grants.
Keller also reported two operational water system updates: the authority’s hydrant-flushing program started Monday and will run Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., for about two weeks; residents who see brown or rust-colored water were asked to run taps a few minutes and call the authority if problems persist. The authority has also started phase 3 of a lead service line replacement project focusing on test borings in the East End, in the area from Queen Street to Center Street and from Kyme to Moser.
Keller said the borough is applying to the U.S. Soccer Foundation (part of an $11 million FIFA legacy initiative) for a mini-pitch soccer court — roughly two tennis courts in size — with two potential locations identified: Pollock Park (contingent on environmental remediation) and Maple Street Park if remediation prevents use of Pollock. Keller said the application will be submitted in the coming days and the borough will publish construction timelines if the grant is awarded.
Parks staff also asked council to consider a $30,000 supplemental grant request to add accessibility landscaping and basketball upgrades at Brookside Park; Keller said no local match is required because the borough has already secured $300,000 for the project.
Keller said the Halloween parade originally planned with Hill School and Hobart’s Run will not be run by Hill School attorneys, who declined liability; he asked other groups to volunteer to run the parade. He also listed 2025 Play Streets dates and other summer events.
No formal vote was taken on the grant applications or mini-pitch application at the June 4 meeting; staff asked council to place relevant resolutions on the Monday agenda for formal action.
