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LEWISTOWN - The Mifflin County Planning Department is entering a pivotal phase of change--one that blends long-term vision with tangible, on-the-ground projects already reshaping how residents live, work and move through the community.
The county is nearing completion of its comprehensive plan update, "Mifflin County 2035: A Decade of Progress," expected to be approved by the commissioners in December 2025, according to Planning Director James Lettiere.
The document will guide development, housing, and infrastructure decisions for the next ten years, acting as a blueprint for coordinated growth. "There are challenges and opportunities that await Mifflin County for the next 10 years," Lettiere said. "They're thoroughly vetted within this plan."
At its core, the plan aims to balance preservation and progress, acknowledging the county's rural character while laying out steps to meet modern demands for housing, transportation, and recreation. It arrives amid a surge in activity across every corner of the county, from multimillion-dollar infrastructure investments to neighborhood-scale improvements driven by grant partnerships and community input.
Nowhere is that mix of ambition and practicality clearer than in the Mifflin Moves initiative, a countywide active transportation plan adopted in 2023. It identifies gaps in sidewalks, trail connections, and pedestrian safety features across boroughs and townships.
One of its first pilot projects--the Allensville SR-655 streetscape--has moved from paper to proposal, with the county submitting a $2.5 million Multimodal Transportation Fund application this summer. The project includes widened sidewalks, improved crossings, and pedestrian lighting through the heart of the village, a stretch that serves both Amish and motor vehicle traffic.
"This is a good example of what these long-term plans are supposed to do," Lettiere said. "They identify needs, attract funding, and deliver projects people can see and use."
Equally visible is the expanding Juniata River Trail, where a half-mile ADA-accessible extension opened last fall, connecting to a three-mile loop through Lewistown's Victory Park and the State Fire Academy area. Funded by DCED, DCNR, Act 13, and local sources, the new link gives residents and visitors a continuous path along the riverfront. It's now being used for local 5Ks, weekend walks, and potential tourism programming through the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau.
Longer term, county planners are studying the next link, tying the trail into Kish Park and beyond, forming a seamless recreational corridor across the valley. That connectivity theme threads throughout the new comprehensive plan: creating "connections" in housing, jobs, recreation, and transportation.
Infrastructure remains a quiet but central piece of the county's forward motion. In Granville Township, the multi-year Hawstone Road water and sewer extension project is addressing public health and growth needs along the SR 333 corridor.
The work--funded through Community Development Block Grants and state awards--will add a 100,000-gallon storage tank, new mains, and a pump station by late summer 2025. For residents long dependent on wells and on-lot systems, the project will mean access to reliable service and cleaner water.
The county's Bridge Capital Plan, completed by Keller Engineers last fall, outlines a 10-year strategy for critical structures, many of which have quietly aged past their design life. Among the top priorities slated for inclusion in the 2027-30 Transportation Improvement Program are the Jacks Creek Road bridge, the Chestnut Street Extension bridge, and Barefoot Road over Treaster Run. Each represents an engineering concern and a lifeline for emergency response, agriculture, and commuters.
Meanwhile, the 2024 CDBG program continues to direct small but impactful investments into local neighborhoods. This year's allocation--roughly $782,000 countywide--funds water meter replacements in Wayne Township, street reconstruction in Yeagertown, a new park pavilion in Reedsville, single-family housing rehabilitation in Granville, and HVAC upgrades at Lewistown's Rec Park. Since 1984, the county's housing rehabilitation initiative alone has improved over 500 homes.
The Countywide Action Plan for Chesapeake Bay watershed improvement adds an environmental layer to the development picture. In 2024, restoration projects repaired over 2,500 feet of stream bank in Upper Kishacoquillas Creek and Honey Creek, while new riparian buffers and "turf-to-meadow" conversions reduced runoff. A $530,000 DEP block grant will fund additional water-quality projects in 2025.
Such efforts underscore the comprehensive plan's emphasis on sustainability, ensuring economic growth doesn't come at the cost of natural assets. That balance, Lettiere noted, is key to maintaining both the county's identity and its resilience in an era of shifting demographics and infrastructure challenges.
Beyond infrastructure, the planning department is coordinating several capital projects that reflect the county's investment in community facilities. Construction on the Mifflin County Community Learning Center, the second phase of the library expansion, is expected to begin in October 2025, funded through the American Rescue Plan's Capital Projects Fund. The project will expand public access to tech