Published: September 08, 2009 09:20 am      

NEW – Ohiopyle gets stimulus funds for 'green' upgrades

OHIOPYLE — A western Pennsylvania town that is home to a popular state park is getting $1.3 million in federal stimulus funds to build a “green” stormwater system and brick parking areas.

Ohiopyle Borough is home to just 74 people, but also to a park that shares the same name and hosts 1.5 million visitors annually. The park is also close to the popular tourist destination, Fallingwater, a home designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Now the park and the borough are getting federal funds to help implement a plan to improve parking, sewerage, energy and storm water management.

Council says the new stormwater system will take a burden off the sewer system that is inundated with runoff. The stormwater will be filtered to rain gardens.