Grant could help Uniontown revitalize Marshall Park

The new home of the Uniontown’s Founding Day celebration could be getting an upgrade if a $250,000 grant is awarded to the city.
City council authorized the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Uniontown to submit an application for the state Department of Community and Economic Development Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program grant at Thursday’s meeting. The grant would be used to begin renovations at Marshall Park, where the Founding Day celebration will be held this summer.
According to Crystal Simmons, executive director of RACU, it would be a great first step toward renovating the park.
“The Greenways Trails and Recreation Program grant has already been submitted for Marshall Park and fingers crossed we hear something good,” she said at the meeting.
According to Simmons, the initial work at the park, which is estimated at $250,000, would preliminarily include installation of an aluminum fence around the area and three drive gates, renovating the existing lighting in the park, removal of trees and stumps, replacement of sidewalks, restoring both the eternal flame and monument in the park and adding new trash receptacles. There will also be additional landscaping work.
If the grant is awarded, Simmons said the project will be reviewed more in depth to confirm the scope of the project.
Simmons said they won’t be able to do everything they want to do there with this first initial grant, but she is already identifying additional grants for a second phase to the project, which could include restoration of walking trails and the installation of a stage at the park.
Parks remain a top priority not only to the city, but to RACU. Simmons added that parks and green spaces within the city are a definite economic development driver.
“I think (the renovation at Marshall Park) will have a significant economic impact to our city,” said Simmons, who expects an uptick in visitors to the parks as work is completed. “This is the first step to put the park in a better condition.”
Michael Scott, publisher of the ÎÞëÊÓƵ Standard which organizes the Founding Day Festival, said he is thrilled to hear about the grant application.
“The ÎÞëÊÓƵ Standard is excited to hear about the application for grant money toward the rejuvenation of Marshall Park. We started the Founding Day Festival in 2019 to raise funding to help hit this goal. It is nice to see things moving forward.”
Scott said that so far, the festival has raised nearly $8,000 as seed money to enable the city to go after grants like this one.
“We have a fun festival planned again for this year. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 29 at Marshall Park,” said Scott. “There will be something for everyone to enjoy. The ÎÞëÊÓƵ Standard has pledged the net proceeds from the festival to the Marshall Park Rejuvenation Fund, and will do so through the fruition of this project.”
Simmons said she submitted the grant application in February.
“It is a competitive grant,” said Simmons. “But even if we don’t get it, we’re bringing attention to Uniontown just trying to write this grant. It gives the city the attention.”
According to Simmons, it’s been some time since Uniontown has applied for a DCED grant, so she believes the state will want to award the city – which is considered an in-need city – something.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority, which administers the grant, will review grant applications in November, so Simmons is confident the city will hear something by the end of the year.