DUBOIS – This past Thursday the Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group successfully held their first meeting about the future installation of a pocket park/garden on Long Avenue between Syktich Appliance and Pentz Run Creek. The play on words for the name came from our tagline: downtown. with a twist.
The project is part of several different initiatives coming together. The Downtown group was awarded two interns through a Department of Community And Economic Development grant, another grant was secured to produce a metal sculpture through the PA Council on the Arts and artist Richard Wilson will be working on that project as part of the park and finally, we have six summer youth workers to help with the project through a program funded by the Federal Stimulus package.
The initial meeting was facilitated by interns Matt Thomas and Courtney Long working under DDRG advisor Julie Stewart. It gave a chance for community members to voice their opinions on what they would like to see done with the vacant lot and possibly expand the project to some adjacent overgrown areas along Pentz Run on the other side of the street. The next step is to hit the drawing boards working with artists and community members. The group will be looking for volunteers, folks willing to help with supplies and materials and advisors.
The official unveiling of the initial designs will take place at the next community meeting on June 25 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at the Notter House on 42 W. Scribner Avenue, parking available at the city building. For more information please contact Matt (tua13832@temple.edu) or Courtney (court7@iastate.edu). Or you can call us at 371-3064 or e-mail downtowndubois@verizon.net. The DDRG hopes to see you there.