Altoona City Council seeks streetscape money for Seventh Avenue project

$960,000 grant would help fund upgrades to Seventh Street

City Council recently approved the submission of an application for a $960,000 grant from the Multimodal Transportation Fund operated by the state Department of Community and Economic Development to help pay for replacing the sidewalks and curbs on Seventh Street between Sixth and Bell avenues.

The grant would require a 10% match of $106,000, which, coupled with the grant funding, would cover the estimated $106,000 total cost of the streetscape project.

The project would be a twin with this summer's replacement of sidewalks and curbs on Eighth Street between Sixth and Crawford avenues.

The sidewalks on both streets, which are a one-way pair, were broken up by Bradford pear trees that the city planted decades ago.

If the grant application is successful, construction would likely occur in 2028, according to Public Works Director Nate Kissell.

City funds would pay for the match, he said.

Park conditions improve

Conditions have improved in the last month at Iuzzolino Park, according to city officials.

Last month, a delegation of neighbors complained about rowdiness among youths there, citing pre-

arranged fights, small children getting jumped, vandalism and threats against adults.

Police have since sent extra patrols to the park at various times of the day, according to Deputy Police Chief Nate Snyder.

Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, said City Councilman Jesse Ickes.

There have also been conversations about adding security measures with the leadership of the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission and conversations about the situation with the Altoona Area School District, according to City Councilman Dave Ellis and Mayor Matt

Pacifico.

Mirror Staff William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.