3 days ago
Johnstown Central Park renovation funding sparks controversy
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The multi-million dollar renovation project of Johnstown's Central Park is moving forward and so is the fierce debate over where the money came from and how it should be used.
The City of Johnstown received millions of dollars in relief funding following the COVID-19 pandemic from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The council earmarked it for upgrades to Central Park.
The federal guidelines for how that money could be spent may be unclear and there's debate as to whether those funds should cover the cost of a park renovation estimated at up to $8 million.
City manager Art Martynuska recently told WTAJ the project is on track with plans having been approved Thursday.
Johnstown City Council approves designs for Central Park project
'The original plan was going for about $6 million. We hope to be around that same amount, if not lower,' Martynuska said.
But Representative Frank Burns (D-72nd District) questions the price tag and the use of these particular funds.
'Casual upgrades, small upgrades to the park people are fine with. But 6 to 8 million in Central Park is ridiculous. And what people really wanted is meaningful things in their community and infrastructure,' Burns said.
Burns proposed the money be put towards renovating or building a new police department, tearing down blighted homes or even building a new grocery store.
But council has stated they believe the money must be put towards the park.
'City council members are telling us a former city manager, Ethan Imhoff, has misled them and they were told that they had to spend this money on the park…That's at least what they're telling us now, that they had to spend 6 to 8 million on Central Park as part of the Main Street program, which is not true at all,' Burns said.
In a letter sent to each council member in May 2024, Burns stated he felt the lines were blurred between the ARPA funding and the city's RAISE grant when it came to how the project would be funded. The city's RAISE grant had to be used for transportation projects and could not be used for the park, according to the department of transportation who awarded the grant.
WTAJ reached out to former Johnstown city manager Ethan Imhoff. He did not agree to a recorded interview but, in a phone conversation, said the decision to spend the money on the park was already made before he became the city manager.
The grant specified that the money had to be allocated by the start of the year meaning the city has to move forward with current plans. It remains unclear whether this is an appropriate use of the funds as the grant was intended to be invested into COVID-19 response efforts or to address economic impacts.
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