Submitted photo
Pictured is the sign leading into Kish Park. Kish Park is the recipient of a sizable grant for upgrades.

LEWISTOWN — Kish Park is set to receive another round of upgrades thanks to more than $120,000 in new funding secured through state and county grant programs.

Derry Township officials announced that $105,000 from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, funded through Pennsylvania’s Act 13 program, has been awarded to continue improvements to the park’s walking paths. The funding was announced by Sen. Judy Ward and Rep. David Rowe and is administered through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Commonwealth Finance Authority.

Those funds will be combined with a $15,000 Act 13 Marcellus Shale Open Legacy Grant awarded by the Mifflin County Commissioners last September to cover professional fees

for the project.

“Kish Park is an important space for recreation in Mifflin County,” said Rowe, who represents the 85th Legislative District. “I’m thankful Derry Township is receiving Act 13 state grant funds to support completion of phase one of the walking trail project. When grant funds are invested in our communities, local governments save money, and residents reap the benefits.”

Ward said the funding reflects the state’s commitment to community needs. “This funding will address critical needs, including infrastructure, public safety and essential services across the district,” she said. “The statewide Local Share Account and Act 13 grant programs provide a financially responsible and affordable way for our local governments to make necessary improvements to their community and increase the quality of life.”

Township Manager Kelly Shutes said the money will go toward the next phase of improvements outlined in the Kish Park Master Plan, a multi-phased, multi-year initiative that began in 2022. “The recent announcement of $105,000 in Act 13 funds from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program by Ward and Rowe will be utilized to continue improvements to the walking paths in the park,” Shutes said.

Derry Township Supervisors Chairman Ron Napikoski Jr. said the ongoing upgrades have been guided by input from local residents and organizations. “The Supervisors continue to implement phases of the 2022 Plan that grew out of the pandemic with input from community partners and the public,” he said. “Securing the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program funds will allow us to move forward with additional walking trail improvement. Together with our local community partners, we are adding a splash pad, redesigned mini golf course, reconstructed pond and park infrastructure, with more improvements to come.”

Economic development leaders also emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving the grant award. “The award demonstrates the value of the Enterprise Zone Partnership,” said

Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation President and CEO Nick Felice. “Through the cooperation of Derry and Granville Townships and Burnham and Lewistown Boroughs, with support from the county, local governments are pursuing important economic and community development projects throughout Mifflin County.”

On behalf of the Mifflin County Commissioners, Commissioner Rob Postal congratulated all those involved. “It is a very competitive grant program, and the local team has crafted a successful application deserving of the state award,” Postal said. “Thanks to our state legislative leaders for their support for continued park improvements.”

Shutes credited Bill Gomes, chairman of the Derry Township Planning Commission, with preparing the successful grant application. She also acknowledged the advocacy of state lawmakers Ward, Rowe, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, as well as the support of the Department of Community and Economic Development.

She thanked the Mifflin County Commissioners for their contribution to the project and said the grant funding will help keep momentum going on park improvements that began several years ago.

Kish Park, long a recreational centerpiece for Derry Township and surrounding communities, has undergone steady enhancements under the township’s long-range master plan. The new funding ensures that the walking paths — a key component of the park’s accessibility and use — will continue to expand and improve, connecting residents to an evolving park that blends tradition with new amenities.