Update provided to borough council, residents on Safe Routes to Parks program

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A park regulations sign at Girard Park.

SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah received an update on the Safe Routes to Parks program, which the borough is participating in.

Mandy Fitzpatrick, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION gave an overview of the program to council and residents in attendance at Monday’s borough meeting.

“We are partnering with the national Safe Routes partnership to get technical assistance to look at access to the parks in Shenandoah, how we get to them, and how we use them to make them safe and accessible for all,” Fitzpatrick said.

She said a workshop was held last month with community members and leaders and that an action plan will be developed.

“That includes doing an early action step,” Fitzpatrick said. “It could be doing an event, like a health fair or family friendly event at the park, it could be using some of the funds we received to improve the entrances to the park or something in the park.”

From that, she said, the partnership will develop an action plan the borough can follow.

“It will not happen overnight,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’ll be a plan [the borough will] have and they’ll be able to use to prioritize projects around access to parks as well as to seek additional funding for park projects.”

Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to contact VISION, Fitzpatrick said, or by visiting their website.

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