Published: June 28, 2008 11:44 pm            

Ebensburg park nearing completion

EBENSBURG — Construction of the new Penn-Eben Park is in the home stretch, giving the county seat two downtown parks with gazebos and other amenities.

Located along West High Street, across from the municipal building, all brick work in the walkways is completed.

The gazebo is finished, except for bricking the floor and adding side railings, said borough Manager Dan Penatzer.

Behind the park area, a base is in place for what will be a public parking area, and paving is expected within a week. Then borough staff will begin the landscaping, he said.

Benches, trash receptacles, a bicycle rack and parking meters have been ordered.

Penn-Eben Park will be named in honor of a former hotel that was there. Penatzer expects it to be completed by fall, including its parking spaces for 20 cars. A state grant is covering some of the cost.

It is expected to be used for borough activities such as PotatoFest, Wheels and Wings and for concerts.

Construction progress has not always been smooth, however, as March bids came in well over the original estimate of $170,000.

Penatzer attributed the costly bids, which ranged from $198,000 to $309,000, as reflecting increased material costs such as asphalt.

At that point, Ebensburg entrepreneur Robert Kimball said he would pitch in.

The gazebo that will be the centerpiece of the park, already purchased through the state, was costing almost $10,000 to erect.

Kimball – whose Ebensburg firm of L. Robert Kimball & Associates Architects and Engineers designed the park – offered to pay for erecting the gazebo.

Borough officials were grateful, describing Kimball as “a great corporate citizen.”

        

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