FY25 Community Project Funding
Listed below are the projects Congresswoman Sykes submitted for fiscal year 2025, to the House Appropriations Committee.
In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congresswoman Emilia Sykes has certified that she, her spouse, and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects approved.
Project: Downtown Akron Main Street Project
Address: 388 S. Main St. to 540 S. Main St, Akron, OH 44311
Funding Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Description: Built in 1969, Downtown Akron's Main Street is in poor condition and deficiencies represent about 40% of the pavement area. Any maintenance or patching is ineffective as it’s well beyond its useful life. Changes to bike and bus access have been accommodated as best as possible but do not flow with the remainder of the corridor and create a jarring transition. Also troubling, bike lanes are not present for most of the corridor, pedestrian crossing opportunities are infrequent and unmarked, street lighting is inadequate and broken and the water main is 144 years old. New development adjacent to the corridor will require the relocation of private utility lines from the adjacent city owned lot into Main Street. This section of Main Street includes Bounce Innovation Hub, the AES Building, GOJO, and Canal Place. It also hosts retail, apartments and includes a local brewery, sand volleyball courts, and access to the Towpath Trail making easy access to the street critical for the inhabitants of Akron.
This Project will revitalize the Main Street through pavement construction with concrete curbs and sidewalks, new lighting and traffic signals, and aesthetic/landscaping treatments. The layout will include bike lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings with bump outs where possible, parking lanes, bus stops, and one lane in each direction for vehicular traffic with turn pockets. In addition, underground conduits will be placed to facilitate the city of Akron's communication and traffic control system, and future private fiber companies. This expands the efficiency of our pre-emption system for emergency vehicles and will keep our traffic signals running efficiently. With on-going interest from various fiber optic companies, extra conduits will keep new improvements in good condition. This funding request and project will make an important impact on the future of downtown Akron and the individuals who frequent this area for work, home or entertainment.
Project: Guise Park Lodge Renovation Project
Address: 38 Guise Park Dr, Munroe Falls, OH 44138
Funding Amount Requested: $938,000
Project Description: The City of Munroe Falls has shovel ready plans to renovate Guise Park Lodge, the city's community hall facility, which was built in 1957. The Lodge desperately needs a new roof as well as enhanced handicapped access and ADA compliant restrooms and kitchen. The city park currently does not have public restrooms and must rent one handicapped accessible port-a-potty from May thru September annually for visitors who use the playground, basketball, and tennis/pickleball courts. The Guise Park Lodge renovations include an entrance to handicapped accessible bathrooms 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. The renovation will also enlarge the usable floor space by 260 square feet within the Lodge and install adult changing tables per the recommendation of the Summit Developmental Disabilities Board. The City is requesting $750,000 in funding to help pay a portion of the renovations for a new roof and an ADA compliant facility while taking into account the increase in cost of labor and building materials that could take place by the time CPF funding becomes available.
Project: Glen Chamberlin Park Improvement Study
Address: 10260 Ravenna Rd, Twinsburg, OH 44087
Funding Amount Requested: $938,000
Project Description: Glen Chamberlin Park is one of the city's oldest and most visited parks. With aging amenities, this project seeks to create a modern, welcoming, safe and accessible environment for individuals and families to enjoy recreational activities, connect with nature and foster a sense of community. This project will demolish and replace multiple end of life picnic pavilions, demolish and replace the over 30 year old walkable bridge and nature access, replace 32 year old playground equipment, replace 12 deteriorating wooden benches, replace 6 deteriorating wooden trash receptacles, and add 4 new recycling/trash combination units. These improvements align with the community’s values and goals for maintaining a well-kept and eco-friendly public space and elevate the park experience for generations to come. The features and designs of the new playground equipment would also address community needs, such as accessibility for those with disabilities or inclusion with sensory and imaginative play elements. Additionally, the project aligns with our broader goals of enhancing community health, promoting environmental stewardship, and increasing access to outdoor spaces for all residents.
Project: East Copley District Safe and Vibrant Streets Study
Address: 116 S. High St, Akron, OH 44208
Funding Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project focuses on improving safety and economic development opportunities within the East Copley District and adjacent key corridors in Akron. These corridors include Copley Road (I-77 to South Portage Path/Diagonal Road), South Maple Street (Diagonal Road/South Portage Path to West Exchange Street), Diagonal Road (Superior Avenue to Copley Road/South Maple Street), and West Exchange Street (Rhodes Avenue to Rand Street). The district itself boasts a unique location near prominent landmarks like John R. Buchtel High School, the historic Simon Perkins Mansion, the John Brown House, Perkins Park, and the Akron Zoo. The district is also adjacent to State Route 59, the Akron Innerbelt freeway, which is currently the subject of a planning study funded through the federal Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities program.
The project is needed to address safety, equity, and encourage economic growth. The project area is located within the High Injury Network, indicating a high frequency of traffic crashes, particularly fatal and severe injury. The planning study will identify specific safety issues, recommend evidence-based countermeasures, and implement select improvements. The project directly aligns with a more equitable transportation network by focusing on a community that has been historically underserved and struggling to maintain businesses."
Project: Ohio and Erie Canal Heritage Area Restoration Project
Address: St. Helena Heritage Park 123 Tuscarawas St, Canal Fulton, OH 44614
Funding Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The Canal Fulton area of the Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Area is an extremely important asset to Stark County and the overall region. This project is made up of a series of key improvements that are needed to sustain this area of the canal for the future. The towpath is part of National Bike Route 21 and State Bike Route 1 with the current trail surface being made of limestone. This project will pave the trail with asphalt to allow easier access for people with disabilities and seniors while creating a more resilient surface that will not require content maintenance and upkeep. This project will also rehabilitate the damaged and deteriorated parking lot to allow people with disabilities and seniors easier access to the trailhead. Other portions of the project include improvements to the canal itself. The canal it currently used by the City of Canal Fulton for the St. Helena 3 Canal Boat rides as well as other public use activities like kayaking and fishing and the project will include the construction of an adaptive kayak launch dock to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities offered by the Canal. The project will also modify the historic lock tender's house to include an interpretive services and information center. The most requested upgrade however will be the construction of fully ADA accessible restrooms to replace the use of porta-potties that do not allow easy access for the differently abled. These critical improvements are key to sustaining and enhancing ecotourism for the area.
Project: Village of Boston Heights Safety Center
Address: 15 E. Boston Heights Rd, Boston Heights, OH 44236
Funding Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The funding will support the design and construction of the new Village of Boston Heights Safety Center providing space for both the police and fire departments. This includes the full renovation of the existing 7,500 square foot Fire Station and an addition of 14,700 square foot.
The program will include code compliant fire department apparatus bays eliminating the risk of carcinogens, a police detainee process that is safe for both the officers and citizens, and a facility that creates a safe environment for community wide events. The Village is looking to combine their Fire and Police stations into one facility which will require extensive expansion and renovation. The Village's Police Department currently operates in the basement of the 100+ year old town hall and are in desperate need of additional space.
Project: Cuyahoga Falls Regional Fire Training Facility
Address: 3089 Northampton Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
Funding Amount Requested: $10,000,000
Project Description: In 2022, the City of Cuyahoga Falls proposed a plan to replace one of its aging fire stations with a new, modern fire station that will serve the expanding community for the next several decades. As part of this plan, the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department (CFFD) is hoping to improve the emergency training of local first responders with plans to additionally construct a regional fire training facility on the site, providing the CFFD and other local safety forces with the ability to perform essential emergency training.
Current plans for the facility include a state-of-the-art classroom capable of accommodating 50 students and a 2-story live burn training building that includes a 5-story drill tower. The proposed training complex addresses a vital need within the region for consistent, high-quality, and realistic live fire training.
Although Summit County is the 4th most-populous county within the State of Ohio, there is currently no fixed fire training facility anywhere within the county for emergency responders to train. Cuyahoga Falls is located centrally within Summit County, making the proposed training complex convenient for use by departments throughout the county, with most fire departments in Summit County having already committed to the project with letters of intent to utilize this facility to train their firefighters, including the University of Akron's Fire Training Program.
This project will have a profoundly positive and direct impact on safety forces in the Cuyahoga Falls region. The lessons learned and expertise honed from training at this facility will help keep first responders and the public safe and better protected. The presence of a facility such as this will bring a large number of city's safety forces together in multiple ways and will act as a common location where training, coordination, and relationships are created and cultivated. These bonds will enhance service, operational efficiency, and ultimately save countless lives.
Project: Hudson Inclusive Playground
Address: 1708 Middleton Rd, Hudson, OH 44236
Funding Amount Requested: $850,000
Project Description: The City of Hudson seeks funding support for an inclusive playground to create a fully accessible environment without limitations for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The playground will feature a one acre site of equipment for all ages and abilities on a specialized turf inside of a fenced area. Currently, the City of Hudson Parks System only features minimal equipment compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) which does not create meaningful recreation opportunities for our community members with developmental disabilities. In addition to the City resources that have been put toward this effort, a group of community members have formed the Hudson Inclusive Playground (HIP) Committee which is invested in the creation of this playground. They have committed to raising private donations for a large portion of the project (the playground equipment) and have enlisted many interested parties for project support, including Summit County Department of Developmental Disabilities, Summit County Council, and neighboring Mayors and communities. The HIP Committee has also self-funded conceptual playground plans with industry leaders Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC. and Landscape Structures, Inc. to aid in the progress of the project. The community involvement and support of this project speaks to the need that exists for this type of amenity.
Project: Clinton Road Rehabilitation Project
Address: 2995 Clinton Rd, Clinton, OH, 44216
Funding Amount Requested: $1,124,966
Project Description: Clinton road project has significant regional impact as it is the only connection for the Village of Clinton and City of New Franklin to the highway system at State Route 21. It is also the only connection for nine (9) current businesses located in Warwick Industrial Park. Due to economic development and the only connection to SR 21, the roadway experiences larger truck traffic and volumes that it was not originally designed for. Pavement thickness and lane width are not designed for the demand and creates a safety and structural failure risk. The road was last improved in 1986, with minor maintenance and patching completed since. The current steep grade of the roadway, combined with the narrow lanes and failing base and surface course, the roadway is in desperate need of reconstruction. Additionally, poor drainage allows stormwater to pond on areas of the road, increasing the safety concern while accelerating the deterioration. The current PCR rating of Clinton Road is 36, which is considered very poor.
The project will reconstruct Clinton Road from Cleveland Massillon Road (west end) and run approximately 2,600 LF east to 2995 Clinton Road. Reconstruction includes full reconstruction and resurfacing, including base repair and standard pavement build up. The project will also increase the travel lanes from 9' to 12' to address the safety factor. Storm water will also be addressed, keeping the rainwater off of the pavement.
Clinton's Warwick Industrial Park is home to nine businesses and over 60 jobs. Companies have stated the need to repair the road for their trucking and transport needs. Failure of the roadway will result in the loss of over 60 jobs and 9 businesses to other locations.
Project: Cromer Water Storage Reservoir Demolition and Replacement Project
Address: 3200 Block of Cromer Ave, NW, Canton, OH 44709
Funding Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Description: The Cromer Reservoir is a buried, concrete water storage reservoir that was constructed circa 1920. It is 362 ft long by 290 ft wide, (essentially 2 football fields in size). The concrete roof slab is supported by hundreds of concrete pillars and then covered by 18 inches of topsoil. The reservoir's depth ranges from 13-22 ft. It stores 15 million gallons of water in reserve and is essential in regulating the water pressure in Canton’s public water system. It is a critical piece of the public water system infrastructure.
On March 12, 2019, the Ohio EPA sent the City a Notice of Violation letter specific to the condition of the Cromer reservoir. The letter identified areas of deterioration along with deficiencies that are human health related and must be addressed. This 100-year-old concrete structure is a failing piece of critical infrastructure that must be replaced for the overall health and well being of the community.
Multiple engineering assessments of the existing reservoir have been performed, including concrete testing and cost analyses. After comparing different options, it was apparent that the best option was to demolish the massive 100 year old Cromer water storage reservoir. Then construct a new, engineered, efficient, cylindrical concrete storage reservoir in its place. The new structure should last another 100 years.
The funding would be specifically used for demolition of the existing structure, and construction of a new concrete reservoir structure.
Project: City of Barberton Justice Center Technology and Equipment
Address: 576 W Park Ave, Barberton, OH 44203
Funding Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: Currently, the Police Department portion of the new Barberton Justice Center (a municipal building housing Barberton's Municipal Court, Clerk of Courts, Police Department, and Law Department) is in significant need for technological upgrades. As part of the project, the City will use this funding to install new IT, security and AV equipment throughout the Police Department. This new equipment will, in some instances, replace aging and outdated technology, and, in other instances, provide the Barberton Police Department with technology and equipment that the City has not previously been able to afford.
The Barberton Police Department is responsible for protecting nearly 25,000 residents, as well as thousands of others who work and visit the City of Barberton. While Barberton’s officers are second to none in terms of their performance on the job, the resources that the City is able to provide has often not been of similar quality.
Fortunately, the Justice Center project will rectify those issues, by providing the Barberton Police Department with a first-class facility, equipment and technology needed in the 21st Century.
Project: Silver Lake Water Main Improvement Project
Address: 2961 Kent Rd, Silver Lake, OH 44224
Funding Amount Requested: $705,000
Project Description: The Village of Silver Lake is looking to install a new 8"" water main connecting two existing isolated systems serving residential properties. Currently, if there is a break in the water line or if there is a loss in pressure, every house down the line could experience a complete loss of water access until repairs can be made, which can sometimes take days. With the new 8"" water main connecting these isolated systems, a redundancy is created that would allow water pressure and service to remain active during a break. Redundant systems also have increased fire fighting pressure that is unavailable in isolated systems. It will also increase the water quality at the ends of the systems as there will be less stagnant water in the system. Approximately 1900 LF of 8"" water main will be installed, along with four new fire hydrants and three new lateral service lines.
Project: Peninsula Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment Facilities
Address: 1582 Main St, Peninsula, OH 44264
Funding Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Description: The Peninsula Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment Facilities project will enable the County of Summit Department of Sanitary Sewer Services to bring much-needed sanitary sewer facilities to the Village of Peninsula, which is located right in the middle of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).
The County and Village have been working in earnest since 2021 to develop a centralized sewer collection and treatment system for the Village, including obtaining a Preliminary Engineering Report in 2022. A location for the wastewater treatment plant has been identified and the cost to construct that facility and the collection lines throughout the Village is estimated at $11 million. The County has allocated $7.5 million in local funds and obtained a $500,000 H2Ohio grant from the State of Ohio. This CPF request of $3 million will close the gap in funding for the project, which will provide critical infrastructure necessary for the health of the Cuyahoga River and the continued vibrancy of the CVNP. Without this project, harmful discharges will continue to pose serious environmental and health concerns for residents and visitors alike, and the Village that serves as the Gateway to CVNP will likely be forced to close its businesses.
Project: Reservoir Park Restoration Project
Address: 3200 Block of Cromer Ave. NW, Canton, Ohio, 44702
Funding Amount Requested: $1,280,000
Project Description: The Reservoir Park Restoration Project responds to urgent environmental concerns and deteriorating infrastructure within Reservoir Park, aligning with the overarching mission of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to safeguard and enhance the nation's natural resources. Following a mandate issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in 2017, which necessitated the removal of a pre-existing dam, the previous pond has changed into a stream. This alteration has led to sedimentation issues and the loss of vital wildlife habitats, in the form of aquatic life, highlighting the pressing need for intervention.
The Reservoir Park Restoration Project will involve the construction of a 40-45 acre-foot pond, restoration of approximately 1800 feet of stream bank, renovations to the exterior and interior of the existing pumphouse, and implementation of long term preventive measures to mitigate future environmental degradation and infrastructure decay.
The restoration of Reservoir Park will have far-reaching benefits for the City of Massillon and its residents. By recreating a smaller version of the historic lake and addressing deteriorating infrastructure the project will tackle the ongoing issues of soil erosion, soil health, water supplies, water quality, absence of a complete ecological wildlife habitat and reduce damage caused by floods. Furthermore, the project will improve safety for the use of the adjacent walking path atop the streambank on the south side where soil erosion is of a safety concern for pedestrians and assist in the enhancement of recreational amenities in order to contribute to the overall well-being and quality of life for Massillon residents. The restoration of Reservoir Park's stream, reintroduction of Reservoir Parks pond and renovations to the existing pump house represent a vital investment in the future of Massillon, preserving natural resources, enhancing community well-being, and fostering a sense of pride in our Parks system.
Project: Rosemont Preserve Restoration Project
Address: 3487 Steiner Smith Road Fairlawn, OH, 44333
Funding Amount Requested: $6,975,200
Project Description: The Rosemont Preserve represents 62 acres of new open space and 3,300 feet of Schocalog Run steam’s main channel. Within the recently released, Biological and Water Quality Study of Tuscarawas River and Select Tributaries by the Ohio EPA, Schocalog Run’s ecological community ranged from poor to fair and the habitat quality was also “poor”, reaching QHEI scores just in the mid 30s, which were among the lowest three habitat scores of the entire 93 habitat assessments conducted in the study area.
The Rosemont Preserve Restoration Project will restore over 9,000 linear feet of Schocalog Run’s stream channel, 30 acres of flood controlling wetlands, and remove one low head and one 10-foot high dam, which will restore fish passage. These changes will mitigate flooding and diminish downstream erosion in Copley, Norton, and Barberton which frequently grapple with flooding issues in the Pigeon & Wolf Creek Watersheds. The project is set to deliver around 4 million gallons of flood storage capacity, reducing the significant loss of property and diminished water quality that typically occurs during flooding. This project will also restore 12% of the entire Schocalog Run from a ditch to a two-stage stream, making this stream segment a warm water habitat and promote biodiversity.