BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Wed., Oct. 20, Mahoning County Commissioners awarded the ABC Water and Stormwater District $1 million towards the creation of a 14.6 acre stormwater park on the property of Market St. Elementary School. The project will take about two years to complete at a cost of some $3 million. When completed, the project will create an area able to hold up to 9-feet of water on an area the size of a football field, and is expected to alleviate storm water issues impacting upwards of 1,400 homes. The stormwater park will include natural habitat areas, a general reforestation of the overall site, a paved and a lighted walking trail (equipped with security cameras).
      County commissioner Anthony Traficanti said his board was “proud and happy to be able to help Boardman Township with flooding issues.
      “The project looks like it will be fantastic.”
      In accepting the funding, Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello said the stormwater park “will create a beautiful, park-like setting for the neighborhood for years to come.”
      In response, Commissioner Traficanti lauded the township trustees for their “phenomenal collaboration” with the Boardman Local School Board.
      County commissioner David Ditzler said the stormwater park will provide “the biggest impact for the most people. We are proud to assist Boardman Township. You don’t ever get a chance to impact so many homes with so much land.”
      Added Commissioner Traficanti, “Trustees Costello, Calhoun and Moliterno should be commended for your aggressive efforts in attacking flooding in Boardman.”
      In addition to the $1 million grant from the county commissioners, funding for the stormwater park will also come from a $500,000 Ohio Capital Grant. In addition, applications for more funding have been made to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and State Rep. Al Cutrona is expected to seek more funds from a capital grant.
      First step in the project is the demolition of Market St. Elementary School, and bids are now being sought for that effort.
     
      PICTURED: BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES accepted a check for $1 million last week from the Mahoning County Commissioners for use in the creation of a stormwater park at Market St. Elementary School. Pictured, from left, Jason Loree, Boardman Township Administrator; Tom Costello, Boardman Township Trustee; Anthony Traficanti, Mahoning County Commissioner; Larry Moliterno, Boardman Township Trustee; David Ditzler and Carol Rimedio-Righetti, Mahoning County Commissioners; and Brad Calhoun, Boardman Township Trustee.