Murrysville Star
$618,667 beautification grant approved
By Ben Moriarty
May 18, 2006

Sidewalks, street lights and landscaping improvements are coming to a road near you -- specifically Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

On Friday, Murrysville was approved to receive a $618,667 Hometown Streets grant from the state for a beautification project that will stretch from the Barbara Redding bridge to Gates Avenue on Old William Penn Highway.

Mayor Joyce Somers was thrilled with the news.
"Everything just seems to be coming together for Murrysville right now," she said. "I'm very excited about this."

With the grant, the municipality will add sidewalks, decorative street lighting and landscaping with planters along Old William Penn Highway to make it more business and pedestrian friendly.

Murrysville is responsible for approximately $68,000 in engineering costs for the project.

Somers said the municipality has money set aside for such a project. Also, Tony Dolan of Walnut Capital and the Walnut Hollow Plaza has donated $17,500 toward the project.

Somers thanked state Sen. Don White and his assistant Joe Pittman for helping the grant reach fruition after she applied for it in late September.

Now that the wait is over, she said the next step is meeting with business owners to discuss the project.

Down the road, Somers hopes to apply for grants to complete two more phases of the project -- extending the beautification work to the intersection with Cline Hollow Road.

"We hope the community will be just as excited about this as we are," she said. "It will be tremendously beautiful and welcoming -- it's going to be pleasant for pedestrians and draw in businesses."

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