The city of Pocatello will receive $16.4 million in much needed infrastructure improvements for its South 5th Avenue Streets and Sewer corridor project including the construction of a six-mile trail, sidewalks and park upgrades.
The U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency, or EPA, announced on July 25 that it had allocated more than $325 million in funding for 21 selected applications to help disadvantaged communities address environmental and climate challenges. Pocatello was one of the recipients chosen.
“The city applied for the Community Change grant in partnership with the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, which will serve as the Community Based Organization nonprofit for the project,” a city of Pocatello press release said.
The funds will help support a variety of improvements in the South Fifth area including the installation of sewer lines in neighborhoods without sewer connections, installing 57 drinking fountains in parks, adding sidewalks to three miles along South 5th Avenue, and constructing a six-mile Greenway trail along the lava cliffs and by the highway pond.
The grant funds will also pay for the installation of interpretive signs for local petroglyphs and historical markers.
In addition, funding will be provided for parking facilities and tree plantings as part of the Centennial and Rainey Park River Vision projects as well as for stormwater infrastructure and amenity updates at Constitution Park.
“The projects were selected to address EPA Climate and Pollution strategies,” the city’s news release stated. “The South 5th Complete Streets and Sewer projects will mitigate a nitrate infiltration issue in the area, upgrade the sewer line capacity, provide sewer connections for properties in the area, increase potable water in city parks by upgrading and adding drinking fountains, enhance active transportation options with bike lanes and greenway trail, increase greenspace and trees, and improve Portneuf River quality through the River Vision projects.”
The grant funds will support community driven projects that improve overall health, safety, quality of life and transportation within the South Fifth area.
The design phase of the various projects will begin next year with construction set to begin after that and possibly be finished in 2028.
“The city of Pocatello is excited to receive this grant from the EPA to make vital improvements along our South 5th corridor,” Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said in the news release. “We look forward to implementing these community-driven projects that will help transform one of our disadvantaged neighborhoods and bring opportunities to Pocatello as a whole.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0