Building a Better Boyertown recently received a $150,000 from the state to acquire land in Colebrookdale Township.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority announced awards for the Statewide Local Share Account on Dec. 18.
The Greater Berks Development Fund, an affiliate of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, helped secure $150,000 in funding on behalf of Building a Better Boyertown for the acquisition of 7.39 acres of land in Colebrookdale Township. The property located on South Reading Avenue and Mill Street is phase one of the Secret Valley Trail, to be known going forward as the Iron Valley Trail, which will connect Boyertown through a network of trails to the Schuylkill River Trail.
This investment allows BaBB to begin phase one of the overall trail plan and represents an important step forward for the project. This property will be transformed into an ADA-compliant nature preserve that the Boyertown community can enjoy for generations. It will serve as a trail spur to the rest of the trail network, offer parking, a picnic area, and restrooms.
“On behalf of Building a Better Boyertown, we are grateful for the support of Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, Rep. David Maloney, the Berks County Planning Commission and the Greater Berks Development Fund, whose advocacy and partnership have been instrumental in advancing this project,” Ellen Martignetti, Main Street Manager of Building a Better Boyertown, said in the release.
The next step will be land survey, design and engineering of the nature preserve, and more grant applications to fund this work.
Building a Better Boyertown became a Main Street America community in 2003. Over the years, BaBB has grown from a small group of volunteers into a driving force for sustainable growth and community pride.
By fostering strong partnerships and utilizing resources from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and the National Main Street Program, BaBB has transformed Boyertown’s downtown into a thriving, walkable hub of activity, preserved and revitalized historic landmarks, hosted events that bring the community together and strengthened local businesses through economic support and collaboration.
For more information, visit www.buildingabetterboyertown.org.
