Published: July 17, 2008 10:48 pm      

Roxbury Park lighting delayed

Though a long-awaited lighting project began months ago, the walking trail at Johnstown’s Roxbury Park remains dark.

Circular concrete bases mark the spots where lampposts were supposed to be shining by now. But the lights are on back order and have not arrived, city Recreation Director Cliff Kitner said.

“As soon as they’re finished making them, they can install them,” Kitner said.

The lighting initiative, involving about

40 lampposts along the popular trail, had been discussed for years and originally was developed by the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Chamber of Commerce.

Early this year, while snow still was falling, a Blair County contractor started the job.

PennDOT is expected to pick up the $340,000 tab.

At this point, Kitner said he does not have a revised schedule for the project’s completion. He added that the contractor, Dixon Electric Inc. of Claysburg, is not at fault.

“It was not anticipated that (the lights) were going to be on back order,” Kitner said.

“There was nothing anybody could do about it.”

On a brighter note, Kitner said all of Roxbury Park’s tennis courts will be open by the weekend.

A contractor previously had resurfaced four of the park’s eight tennis courts. Work started in May.

The other four now have been completed.

Two of those courts also were repaved and received new poles and fencing, Kitner said.

HRI Inc. of State College handled the $86,750 job, which City Council approved in January.