FREDERICKTOWN – A $470,000 grant that was tied up in red tape for months has finally been approved for the Village of Fredericktown’s Transportation Alternative Program.
The money will fund the proposed Fredericktown Streetscape Project, which is slated for completion in 2023, a press release issued this week said. For the $1.5 million project, grant funding will pay for 95% of it, including construction and inspection.
Stretching between Sandusky and Mill streets, the project will make several improvements to evoke a specific theme, like replacing existing cable-hung traffic lights with decorative mast/arm LED lights and replacing existing “cobra-head” streetlights with historical-style LED lighting.
But there are also practical considerations the money will cover, such as replacing existing dilapidated sidewalks with wider ADA-compliant sidewalks to allow for potential outdoor dining for all age groups. Other upgrades include a safer parking layout and a project to widen Main Street to safely accommodate commercial trucks and agricultural traffic.
As the release stated, the Fredericktown grant request was boosted by nearby improvements facilitated by the Knox Community Foundation for the portion of the Streetscape Project on the west side of Main Street, from Second Street to College Street.
“This contribution of the Knox County Foundation provided tens of thousands of dollars in savings to taxpayers and enhanced the Village’s grant application,” the release said. “The grant will cover approximately 95% of the estimated $1.5 million project, which includes both construction and inspection.”
The village has contracted with KE McCartney, a Mansfield engineering firm.
Mayor Jerry Day and Village Council said in the release that the project to showcase downtown Fredericktown would usher in “exciting and changing times for the Fredericktown Community,” boosting its appeal to visitors of various ages.
