MASSILLON – City officials plan to use state money to help improve a section of Reservoir Park.
City Council is expected to accept a $300,000 capital improvement grant to restore the streambank along the northern section of the “Rezzy” waterway near Hankins Road NE. The money — if approved by council — will pay for the bulk of work, which could break ground by the end of 2025.
“We want to get this out to bid (for construction), so we can at least attempt to get started this year,” city engineer Alex Pitts said.
About $53,000 toward the effort is to come via the Massillon Recreation Department, pending approval by the Parks & Rec Board.
Council discussed the park grant during its Aug. 11 work session. Members could vote as soon as Aug. 18 whether to accept the funding.
“I don’t see a problem bringing this up next week, so maybe we can get it out for bids and get moving,” Councilwoman Julie Harwig-Smith said.
The effort has been dubbed the Reservoir Park Streambank Restoration Project, and will add new sandstone block to secure stream walls.
“We’ll also add some trees and a wetlands area to make it more erosion friendly,” Pitts said.
The city was relying on federal dollars to fund a pond restoration project at the park, but $1.8 million in funding fell through earlier this year. The pumphouse was also to get a major facelift with the money.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, had included the money in the 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Bill for those phases of work. The funding was cut from the spending bill passed by the U.S. House.
Other avenues are being sought by the city for the pond and pumphouse portions.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon plans to use state grant to repair northern streambank at Reservoir Park
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
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