Pike seeks block grant

Money sought for housing rehabilitation and park improvements in Shohola and Matamoras

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Commissioners are seeking $297,146 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for three projects in the county.

The program, which is limited to assisting low- to mid-level-income residents, is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The total allocation for Pike County is $297,146.

“We are asking HUD for $150,000 in a county-wide rehabilitation effort to assist six low- to middle-income home owners in various efforts, like the installation of a new roof or other necessary repairs,” said Christine Obser, director of the county’s human development office. The office will select the recipients from a waiting list of income-eligible homeowners, she said.

The second project is for Shohola Township, which is requesting a grant of $67,650 for improvements in Rohman Park, a township park on the eastern end of Twin Lakes Road.

“Our goal is to develop a master plan that will show the existing design, future plans and construction documents and finalize the complete scope of the project,” said Nelia Wall, township secretary/treasurer.

Rohman Park is located within the Delaware and Hudson Heritage Corridor and, therefore, may qualify for additional funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

Sally Talaga of the Wayne County Historic Society and George J. Fluhr, chairman of the Shohola Township Board, are completing an Upper Delaware Council Technical Assistance Grant project that maps and identifies the 10 most historical sites located either on the existing property or within walking distance of the property that has historic significance, Wall said.

“Because of the detour along Twin Lakes Road, people are not using the park in sufficient numbers,” Wall said. “We will use the money from the grant to bring improvements to the park, so that it will draw more people.”

Additional funding from DCNR will be used for a list of improvements, which include a five-foot perimeter fence around the park, full bathroom facilities, a septic system, a well, electricity, a playground, bleachers for the ballfield, picnic tables, a shed, bike racks and an historical path around the park and interpretive signage, she said.

The commissioners are seeking $50,525 for a third project—parking lot improvements at the Matamoras Borough Airport Park.

“The remaining $28,971 is set aside for administrative costs,” Obser said.