The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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March 24, 2008

Hermitage eyes 2nd Elm Street grant to improve pedestrian access to Buhl Farm

By Joe Pinchot

HERMITAGE — Hermitage city officials already have one state Elm Street Program grant pending for sidewalks on North Buhl Farm Drive and are eyeing a second application for work at Buhl Farm and Hazen Road.

The city will hold a public meeting on the concept at the commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Already on the table is a $250,000 grant to build sidewalks on both sides of Buhl Farm between Highland Road and East State Street.

Although no official word on the grant has come from Harrisburg, city officials were encouraged by state officials to expand the scope of the project, said Assistant City Manager Gary M. Gulla.

Officials are kicking around ideas for another $250,000 application to improve the Hazen-Buhl Farm intersection to make it safer for people to enter Buhl Farm park.

Community Planner Jeremy P. Coxe said the ideas being considered include building a trail into the park; pedestrian improvements at the corners, such as striping for street crossings, short sidewalks and curb cuts; and a park sign.

Part of the work technically would be done a few yards into Sharpsville, but on PennDOT right-of-ways.

Commissioner Duane J. Piccirilli supported the ideas.

“You see people running across there with baby carriages and pets to get to the park,” he said.

Commissioner Tim Ruffo asked whether sidewalks could be built from Avalon Drive to get people from the area of Wakefield Drive, where he lives, and Skyline Drive to the park.

Special Projects Manager Ian Garfoli said he could look into that, but believes private-property issues would prevent the building of the sidewalks.

City Commissioner Rita L. Ferringer said she had a hard time understanding how the intersection would be pedestrian friendly when there would be no sidewalks built to it.

If the city proceeds with the application and gets the grant, it would have to provide a 10-percent match.

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