Park Funding, Free Water Ice and A Bridge Closing

West Pottsgrove became the fourth of eight towns to enjoy the presentation from the Pottstown Regional Recreation Committee Wednesday.

Regional Recreation Director Michael Lane and  Craig Colistra, program officer with the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, outline the position's accomplishments over the last five years.

Chief among those was obtaining $1.6 million in grants out of $1.9 million sought. West Pottsgrove's share of that grant money is about $140,000, much of it spent in Murgia Park, all for an investment of about $25,000 over five years.

Craig Colistra, standing, program officer with the Pottstown
Area 

health and Wellness Foundation and Regional Recreation
Director 

Michael Lane, seated, addressed the
West Pottsgrove Commissioners 

Wednesday night about
renewing the regional recreation director position.

Lane, who was also recently certified as a playground inspector, surveyed the township's three playgrounds for free and recently submitted suggestions for upgrades and safety improvements, some of which the public works department has already begun work upon, said Township Manager Craig Lloyd.

A project of six of the eight towns that comprise the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee, the regional recreation effort here has been declared by the state to be the "most collaborative" it has helped fund in Pennsylvania.

but with that state funding going away in August, 2019, and the health and wellness foundation committing to picking up 50 percent of the cost, the township's share may go up to about $8,000 a year unless East Coventry and New Hanover also decide to join up.

Grosstown Road bridge construction in November, 2017.

Lane said last night that East Coventry seem interested and New Hanover will see their presentation at tonight's supervisor's meeting.

Police chief Matt Stofflet also announced that the police will make their second round of offering free water ice to township residents on the Kona Water Ice truck on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 7, so keep an eye out for the truck.

(Read about the first round by clicking here.)

Also, Lloyd announced that the recently opened Grosstown Road bridge over Mantawny Creek will
be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Aug. 13 to Aug. 24 to put the finishing touches on the bridge, including paving, pavement marking and guardrails.

The new Grosstown Road bridge after it was opened to traffic.

The bridge opened to traffic in December.

The meeting also ran on a bit longer than normal as the commissioners went into closed-door executive session to discuss personnel.

When they came out, they voted unanimously to accept the resignation of police secretary Ruth Smith, as well as to hire an additional part-time officer. They also voted to advertise both positions.

And now, without further ado, here are the Tweets from the meeting.

Parks, Free Water ice and Bridge Closings