The City of North Royalton was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $1 million from the Cuyahoga County Council. The grant was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, through the Federal Government.
“I want to thank Mike Gallagher for letting us know that the money was available and the process we needed to follow,” said Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz. “I thank him and County Council for approving our request to improve our park and the amenities for our young residents.”
Cuyahoga County has received $239,898,257 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) from the Federal Government. Of that amount, $86 million has been allocated for community grants and $66 million have been equally distributed between each County Council District’s eleven members.
According to the Cuyahoga County Council, “The Council will consider a wide range of potential projects, but proposals are expected to be for use of one-time money, as opposed to ongoing operations. Proposals beneficial in the areas of community development and place-making, economic development, environment, social services or cultural infrastructure, and technical innovation are encouraged. Projects for which other substantial funding streams are available, such as road and bridge projects, are less likely to be considered.”
North Royalton joins other District 5 cities, individuals and organizations totaling $13.8 million in funding, including $5 million to the City of Parma for a community center and clubhouse for Ridgewood Golf Course; $3.5 million to Strongsville to improve downtown walkability; $3.3 in grants to local artists, nonprofit organizations and other companies and $2 million for demolishing blighted properties.
According to the county resolution granting North Royalton the funding, the City estimates that about 20-30 temporary construction jobs will be created or retained through this project. According to Antoskiewicz, the money will be used for the Memorial Park Renovation Project and more specifically, toward the cost of the splash pad, shade structure. “I think that’s where I would earmark that money for the improvements that we have already started,” he said. Since the expense has already been earmarked in the City’s 2022 budget, that money will become available. At this time, Antoskiewicz said that the definitive plan on where that money will be spent has not been determined. “I’d like to see the plan continue, but we haven’t gotten to that point yet. We’ll have to evaluate what our next step will be.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer