Monday, October 27, 2014
Staff report
GIRARD
The city should know by the end of the year whether it will be awarded two Ohio Department of Natural Resources grants — one for a bridge and one for a canoe launch, an ODNR spokeswoman said last week.
The city had expected to know in September whether it will receive $69,000 for a canoe launch on property at the Mahoning River off Front Street underneath the Girard Viaduct.
It also is awaiting word on whether it will receive a $67,000 grant to repair or replace the bridge into Liberty Park, said Mayor Jim Melfi.
The city closed the bridge in February after an inspection found it is unsafe.
The Girard Cross Country Team has asked the city council to reopen the bridge because closing it has interfered with its season. The team, which uses the park for home meets, cannot have them if it can’t offer parking.
If the city does not get the grant, it will explore other options for replacing the bridge, council members said.
Melfi said two weeks ago that the Trumbull County Engineer looked at the bridge again and recommended demolishing it “to get the project going.”
“But we want to check with the team so it doesn’t interfere,” he said.
The team’s season ends this month.
Melfi said demolishing the bridge will allow the city to inspect the earthen supports on each side of it.
“This is so old, it could be from 1919, we don’t have a record of it,” he said. It could be pushing 100.”
The Friends of the Mahoning River applied with the city for a $67,000 grant for the canoe launch.
There is a basic launch there now. The group cleared weeds and made a road back to the river.