A project to extend a river walk along the Little Schuylkill River in Tamaqua has received a $424,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The funds were awarded to the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, and will come from PennDOT’s Surface Transportation Block Grant program Set-Aside, also known as the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside).

“I’m thrilled to see Tamaqua continuing its positive momentum and advancing recreation and building green space for its residents. I love it!,” said borough Councilwoman Mary Linkevich, who chairs council’s Recreation and Youth Committee. “This is very exciting news for Tamaqua and our goal to advance walkable spaces and create a healthy community.”

The first phase of the project is complete and includes a paved walkway along the river near Boyer’s Food Store and Willing Park.

The recently awarded funds will go toward the second phase. That round of work will connect the east side of the borough to the existing river walk. To do so, a pedestrian bridge will be placed over the river between Hazel and West Spruce streets.

The funds will also allow for new LED lighting along the existing path, as well as on the proposed pedestrian bridge and sections that will be created along the east side of the river.

An additional part of the project includes extending the existing walk from Cedar Street to Broad Street.

In 2022, the partnership purchased a home at 233 Cedar St. and 1.1-acre parcel on South Greenwood Street. Both properties border the river and will become part of the project.

Earlier this month, the Tamaqua Borough Council adopted a resolution to apply for a $750,000 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on behalf of the partnership. If received, the funds would be used toward the East Broad Street extension.

“The goal is to make Tamaqua a safe space to live and learn and work and recreate, and this will go a long way in achieving that big picture for our residents,” Linkevich said.

The total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million, according to Micah Gursky, the partnership’s executive director.

The Tamaqua River Walk project was one of 55 to receive a grant from PennDOT.

The TA Set-Aside grants are awarded to projects that improve the accessibility of biking and walking paths and amenities, pedestrian access to public transportation, community improvement activities, environmental mitigation projects, and trails.

“A diverse transportation network that is both accessible and safe is the cornerstone of healthy, connected communities,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “I am excited to see the investment in communities around the state to improve access to critical services.”

Schuylkill River Greenways NHA was also among the award recipients and will receive $1.5 million to build 4.6 miles of trail between St. Clair and Frackville. The nonmotorized trail will parallel Route 61 to create an active transportation alternative where none currently exists. According to PennDOT, the trail will cross the relocated Mount Carbon historic bowstring truss bridge, connect to a large shopping plaza, and pass through the center of St. Clair borough. The trail will be an ADA accessible, multiuse trail with a compacted aggregate surface.

PennDOT received 137 applications requesting over $164 million in the latest round.

Selections were made based on established criteria such as safety benefits, cost effectiveness, readiness for implementation, impact on low-income or minority communities, statewide or regional significance, integration of land use and transportation decision making, collaboration with stakeholders and leveraging of other projects or funding.