Girard considers riverfront development

By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

girard

Friends of the Mahoning River has approached Girard with the idea of developing a canoe launch and boat dock on property the city owns along the river.

Mayor Jim Melfi told city council at its meeting Monday that the group would like the city to apply for an Ohio Department of Transportation watercraft grant. The city would develop the property with its own money, then get reimbursed, he explained.

Girard acquired the property, which could be at least 600 feet long, in 2003, Melfi said, after the city was declared a disaster area from heavy rains and flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency granted the city $700,000 to allow people to sell their property in the flats, which is a floodplain south of the Girard viaduct.

The criteria for receiving the federal aid was to allow the city to acquire the property, Melfi said.

“It’s amazing to see all we own along the riverfront,” he said.

“It’s exciting to bring some recreation there,” he said after the meeting.

“I don’t know that anything else could go there because of the flood zone.”

Improvements could include lengthening Front and River streets, which stop short of the river, and a parking area near the launch, he said.

Friends of the Mahoning River will be invited to speak to council about the idea.

The council also agreed to purchase property on State Street next to the city cemetery so the cemetery can expand. It will buy 1193 N. State St. for $37,000.