FREEMANSBURG, Pa. — This borough of fewer than 3,000 residents has some ambitious plans.
It has received more than $620,600 in state money for construction and engineering for a community center, as well as a $184,000 grant to build an outdoor amphitheater. Both projects will be built at Gerald C. Yob Community Park, said Borough Manager Jonathan Itterly.
- Freemansburg has plans to build a community center and outdoor amphitheater
- The projects would be built at Gerald C. Yob Community Park
- Borough officials hopes to provide amenities to residents, as well as drive tourism
The community center would be about 7,200 square feet, with an open space and a second-floor mezzanine.
Itterly said Freemansburg hopes to use the community center for events such as its Fall Fest, Christmas tree-lighting and Easter events.
"It'll provide a space for our current events that we can expand on," Itterly said. "And then also an opportunity to have maybe a space to have a farmers market on the weekends, where vendors can come and set up an area to sell hopefully local products."
The center also would have a walking track residents could use during the colder months. A snack stand and restrooms also are part of the plans.
"I think it'd just be a great space," Itterly said.
Outdoor amphitheater
The outdoor amphitheater would seat more than 2,000 people.
The grants were announced by state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, who helped procure the funds.
"The borough is looking to have a facility that would be able to accommodate various activities in the community," Freeman said, "but also to draw people into the community for possible concerts and other activities.
"It would be a wonderful way of enhancing the quality of life within Freemansburg and offering another venue for live performances and various other features."State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton
"It would be a wonderful way of enhancing the quality of life within Freemansburg and offering another venue for live performances and various other features."
The project has been in the works for two years.
"This kind of came about pretty much a year after COVID hit," Itterly said. "People have tended to go to more outdoor events with COVID because they were able to be outside and [have] fresh air, open spaces, distance a little more."
Money for the amphitheater was allocated last year from Gaming Local Share Account funds — money from casino proceeds that are distributed to neighboring communities through the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Itterly said the borough plans to break ground on the community center near the end of July.
His said his hope is the projects "provide a space for family, families and the community to enjoy the outdoors, enjoy our town, promote more tourism to the area."
The borough also recently received $200,000 for vehicular and pedestrian safety improvements along Main and Washington streets.
Those funds will be used to to install overhead string lights that would zigzag down Main Street, as a way to attract small businesses to the area, Itterly said. The borough is also hoping to put in the infrastructure for a flashing illuminated crosswalk.