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County approves Josiah White Park study grant; staff say tourism bureau will provide match
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Summary
The board approved a DCNR grant and resolution to study visitor flow, vendor placement and parking at Josiah White Park; county staff said the local tourism bureau will provide the match so the county bears no local match cost.
Carbon County commissioners approved a grant application and resolution to fund a study of Josiah White Park intended to analyze visitor flow, vendor placement, restroom and welcome-center needs, and parking logistics.
Staff said the park receives heavy visitation (staff cited an annual visitation figure in the hundreds of thousands at the nearby train station) and that the county sought a grant to engage a consultant who will recommend vendor placements, permit structures and circulation patterns to reduce conflicts with Jim Thorpe businesses and improve visitor experiences. The county also said the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau (described in the meeting as the local tourism entity) agreed to provide the required match so that the county will not have to fund the matching portion.
Board members emphasized the grant does not mean the county is selling the train station; rather the study is intended to improve how vendors and visitors use the park and to protect local businesses. The board approved the DCNR grant and authorized staff to proceed with the study and related procurement steps.
