Greene Co. Receives Grants for Projects
Washington PA Observer Reporter
21 December 2011
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has
awarded grants to three Greene County projects aimed at promoting
canoeing and kayaking on the Monongahela River and Ten Mile Creek.
DCNR announced last week the awarding of a $119,600 Community
Partnerships Program Grant to develop canoe and kayak launches on
Ten Mile Creek at Crawford Park in Franklin Township and near
Clarksville in Jefferson Township.
The agency also awarded a $44,200 grant for a canoe and kayak
launch on the Monongahela River in Greensboro Borough.
The launches in Franklin and Jefferson townships are part of a
plan to create a 23-mile waterway trail on Ten Mile Creek from
Waynesburg to the Monongahela River.
The plan calls for the construction of six canoe and kayak
launches on the Ten Mile, said engineer Mike Dufalla, who is
spearheading the project and prepared the grant application.
With the new grant, four of the six launches will now be funded,
Dufalla said. A fifth launch, at Ten Mile Creek Park, is existing,
he said.
The project earlier was awarded state grant money for launches
near Mather in Morgan Township and at the Route 188 soccer field
in Franklin Township.
Those sites were subsequently moved, Dufalla said. The Morgan
Township launch will be off Beagle Club Road, and the Route 188
launch will be slightly upstream from the soccer field.
The sixth launch, proposed to be built at Pollocks Mill, is now
under discussion, he said.
The importance of the waterways trail project is "tourism,"
Dufalla said. It also will provide an economic boost to the area
as kayakers and canoeists seek services locally ranging from canoe
rentals to restaurants.
The trail with its established launches, parking spaces and other
amenities also will be ideal for family use, Dufalla said.
The DCNR grant was awarded to the Jefferson-Morgan Regional
Council of Governments, formed by Jefferson and Morgan townships
and Clarksville and Jefferson boroughs.
Because the waterways trail also will pass through Franklin and
East Bethlehem townships and Waynesburg Borough, those
municipalities participated as associate members of the council
for purposes of the grant application.
The match for the grant funding will be made by the
municipalities, which will provide equipment and labor for
construction of the launches. Dufalla said he hopes work on the
new launches can be started in the spring.
Greensboro Borough's kayak and boat launch will be built adjacent
to the gazebo park at the end of Stone Street, said Darlene Urban
Garrett, the borough's Elm Street manager, who prepared the grant
application.
Right now, no access to the river exists in the area for kayakers
and canoeists, she said.
"This launch is a beginning in developing the river in Greensboro
as a recreational water trail resource," Garrett said. "It will
draw canoes and kayakers into town to support local businesses and
encourage vital environmental consciousness about the Monongahela
River."
The grant will be matched with local funds and design funds
received through a heritage grant from Rivers Of Steel, Garrett
said.
"We're thankful to DCNR for providing the funding," Garrett said.
"This project will definitely enhance our riverfront."