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Gaming funds aid Beaver Meadows

Beaver Meadows will soon enjoy a new recreation/community building along Church Street, as state lawmakers came through with $150,000 in gaming funds to add some finishing touches.

On Thursday, borough officials welcomed state Rep. Doyle Heffley and Sen. David Argall to visit and tour the pavilion building, which has been some eight years in the making.

Councilman B.J. Cryder III said that the borough just wanted to build restroom facilities to support activities at the park, but they were sent back to the drawing board when the bids came back.

“Some land became available next to the park, so it kind of morphed into what we have now, which is going to be a beautiful rec hall once we’re up and running,” he said. “So, we got our bathrooms, and we got a little more.”

Council President Mike Baran said many different groups in the community will be able to use the building, including Girl Scouts, the Crimewatch group and even the Senior Citizens.

“I’ve lived here my whole life and never had anything like this,” he said. “I think it’s just such a great and wonderful addition to the borough for all of its citizens.”

Cryder said that they’ve been call the building a pavilion, but it’s really so much more with bathrooms right off the entrance and then a large, multifunction room with storage.

The borough plans to use Local Share Account funds to install a kitchenette, which will include a sink, refrigerator, chest freezer and counter space to set up slow cookers or other serving trays for events, he said.

They also want to do some work on the exterior of the property, including a retaining wall and driveway extending to back of the lot for the handicapped accessible parking space, Cryder said.

The building itself cost well over $500,000, Baran said. The borough received $422,000 in grants and a $125,000 donation from estate of Dan Kostick to fund the project, he said.

Heffley said he’s witnessed the sense of community in Beaver Meadows, having joined residents for Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, as well as some of the concert series in the park.

“So when the community came together and decided to do this project, it was a no-brainer to support it,” he said.

“I really want to commend Beaver Meadows, because this has been a long project,” Heffley said. “It takes time to get these projects done, but you see how nice it is. It’s a wonderful project for the community.”

Argall talked about the impact projects such as these have on community, breathing new life into old towns. He just visited a project in downtown Hazleton, where a historic hotel was converted into 68 apartments.

“Well, breathing new life into an old town isn’t just important in a city; it’s important in a small town as well,” he said. “This can have a lot of impact.”

Both lawmakers said they’re happy to support communities when grant opportunities come up, but they all have to work together to make it possible.

“There’s really no political lines when it comes to doing projects like this for the community,” Heffley said.

Beaver Meadows Borough recently received a $150,000 gaming grant to put the final touches on its new pavilion/recreation building along Church Street. The project cost more than $500,000 in grants and donations. KELLY MONITZ SOCHA/TIMES NEWS
The interior of Beaver Meadow’s new recreation building will gain amenities, thanks to a state grant. KELLY MONITZ SOCHA/TIMES NEWS
Beaver Meadows Councilman B.J. Cryder III, far right, talks about the pavilion/recreation building project with state lawmakers. Standing are from left, Council President Mike Baran, Rep. Doyle Heffley, and Sen. David Argall. KELLY MONITZ SOCHA/TIMES NEWS
Jennifer Barnasevitch, who serves on Beaver Meadows’ Citizens for Recreation, talks about pavilion/recreation building project with councilmen and state lawmakers Thursday. Standing, from left, are, Barnasevitch, Council President Mike Baran, Rep. Doyle Heffley, Sen. David Argall and Councilman B.J. Cryder III. KELLY MONITZ SOCHA/TIMES NEWS