NEW CASTLE World summit guests note towns' similarities

Several other New Castles are undergoing downtown revitalization efforts, too.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Walking along half-finished streets, surrounded by construction crews and road barriers, almost felt like home to Eddie Boden.
Boden, council leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council in the United Kingdom and one of the 70-plus delegates attending the third International New Castle Summit of the World, said his city, like its namesake in western Pennsylvania, is also undergoing a revitalization effort.
"Our downtown compares very closely to this one. We have the same problem of regeneration and we are working on retailing our main street," he said.
Dedication of park
The delegates from six countries and seven cities took a walking tour of downtown New Castle on Tuesday morning before dedicating Friendship Park to Shinshiro, Japan, the sister city of New Castle, Pa. Shinshiro translates into New Castle.
Questions about the construction of streets and funding the downtown revitalization effort in New Castle, Pa., were fielded by Mayor Timothy Fulkerson and architect Larry Heckey.
The $5 million project, designed to bring business back to the city center, is being paid for by a mix of federal, state and private funding. New streets, sidewalks, lights and utilities are part of the project.
Officials are also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revitalize the Neshannock Creek, which runs through the heart of the city, to create a waterside park.
Interested in funding
New Castle, Ind., representatives said they wanted to learn more about their Pennsylvania counterpart's funding mechanism because that city is also undergoing a revitalization effort.
"We are finally rebuilding after 150 years. European cities are used to rebuilding, but it's new to all of us. We should grow to expect to rebuild after so many years," said Bill King, a member of the Indiana delegation.
Mayor Yoshio Yamamotio of Shinshiro said his city is also undergoing a revitalization program and plans to use New Castle, Pa., as a model.
"This city of New Castle and Shinshiro are very similar in geography in that they both have a river running through the city," he added.
The delegates walked through sections of downtown closed to motor vehicles and snapped photographs of partially razed buildings, restaurants and the Neshannock Creek before going to King's Jewelry Store on East Washington Street for coffee and doughnuts.
The afternoon was spent touring the Lawrence County countryside by bus and visiting Westminster College.
The delegates are heading to New Castle, Ind., today to talk about education and tour that region of the country. The summit ends Saturday.
cioffi@vindy.com