Burns: $250,000 grant for Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission
Fledgling organization gets seed money to improve regional offerings
Rep. Frank Burns July 29, 2024
EBENSBURG, July 29 – A $250,000 state grant secured by state Rep. Frank Burns will assist the newly formed Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission in upgrading existing regional recreational assets and in evaluating new uses for a former elementary school site in Upper Yoder Township.
Burns, D-Cambria, said the sizeable grant grew from several meetings he had to discuss ways to help the fledgling recreation commission, comprised of representatives from Westmont Hilltop School District and its member municipalities of Southmont and Westmont boroughs, and Upper Yoder Township.
“Westmont school director Rob Gleason was a frequent participant in those strategy-crafting sessions, and I thank him for his valuable input,” Burns said. “Working together with Rob and other local elected officials, I delivered an assist from Harrisburg that is both positive and tangible, not just wishful thinking.”
______________________________________________________________________
“I’ve been around Westmont government for 20 years or more, and Frank Burns is the first state elected official who’s ever got us a dime – for the recreation commission or the borough, believe it or not. He’s been very helpful to get these projects going.” – William “Bill” Stasko, treasurer, Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission
______________________________________________________________________
William “Bill” Stasko, treasurer of the Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission, said Burns has been “instrumental” in assisting Westmont Borough, helping it purchase a new dump truck, as well as the recreation commission.
“I’ve been around Westmont government for 20 years or more, and Frank Burns is the first state elected official who’s ever got us a dime – for the recreation commission or the borough, believe it or not,” Stasko said. “He’s been very helpful to get these projects going.”
Stasko said he foresees the $250,000 grant being used to lay groundwork for improvements at The Ridge, a 62-acre site owned by Westmont Borough and Upper Yoder Township that abuts Pennsylvania Game Commission property and offers pavilions.
“People rent that facility for weddings, graduation parties, family reunions, but we don’t have public water out there right now. It would be a lot better if we had public water and public sewage,” Stasko said.
Robert Callahan, Westmont Borough mayor, said the recreation commission also operates several outdoor playgrounds, along with The Grove in Westmont Borough, a former skating rink where many senior citizens meet for activities including pickleball, that could see improvements.
“Frank has always been pretty good. He’s gotten us grants before,” Callahan said, agreeing that the grant seed money will make a big difference in recreation opportunities in the region. “That’s exactly right.”