News from CEED

CEED and eight community co-sponsors hosted a meeting on January 13, with more than fifty Meadville community members coming together to discuss the potential of using Mill Run as a focus for downtown revitalization and sustainable community development. Since 1910, much of the stream has been covered over and routed through culverts under the city. The endeavor under discussion would include day-lighting the stream where possible, developing green business, and incorporating public art such as murals and sculpture along the waterway.

The meeting began with presentations of projects already under way along Mill Run: the renovation of Market Alley; plans for a multi-use trail that would connect West Mead to Vernon Township through downtown Meadville; expansion of the Meadville Area Local Growers and exploration of a year-round storefront; a proposed textile sorting, recycling, and craft center; and stream restoration of a segment of Mill Run that will be transformed into a meditation walk and garden adjacent to the Meadville Medical Center.

"There really is public support for these types of projects," says Andy Walker '00, the director of community development at the Meadville Redevelopment Authority. "Meadville area residents who were part of a recent planning process put revitalization efforts around French Creek and Mill Run as a top priority."

CEED is continuing to meet with several community partners to investigate funding possibilities to advance ideas resulting from the meeting. For more information on the Mill Run meeting, visit http://watershed.allegheny.edu/millrun.html.