Another grant for $50,000 was recently awarded to the Borough of Akron from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) for the upcoming stormwater management project in Roland Park. Stormwater management, drainage improvements and stream restoration are ways to increase groundwater recharge, protect the water supply and improve water quality. The Borough of Akron's water supply wells and associated source water protection areas are located within Roland Park, the 85-acre public park owned and maintained by Akron Borough.

Akron Borough manager Sean Molchany applied for the additional amount needed to cover the overage bid cost of the project. With this additional grant money, the project will now be financially completely covered.

Previously, a grant for $120,000 was received from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for the purpose of working on a streambank restoration project and rain garden project at Roland Park. Molchany also worked with Land Studies of Lititz to write a grant application to the SRBC. The money from the NFWF grant was used as an in-kind requirement for this second application instead of using funds from Akron Borough's budget to expand the scope of the project. At that time, the amount of grant monies totaled $748,770. A design was submitted to the state and approved. However, after the bidding process was complete, the borough needed an additional $50,000 for the project.

Now, with this last additional awarded grant, the amount for the project totals $798,770. Recently Molchany met with the contractor, Aquatic Resource Restoration Company from York, which has a goal to finish the project in 90 days.

The project aligns with the Pennsylvania state-mandated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program; the Borough of Akron is required to comply with its requirements. MS4 refers to a collection of structures designed to gather stormwater and discharge it into local streams and rivers. The goal of MS4 is to reduce sediment erosion and pollution and to stop pollution from entering the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Some of the objectives for the project include reducing bed and bank degradation; protecting public water source wells and sanitary sewer lines from further eroding; replacing a damaged pond outlet pipe and re-routing the run off; re-establishing 1.5 acres of floodplain with wetland pockets to promote infiltration, encourage surface water recharge, reduce flooding and filter pollutants; and installing rain gardens.

Stream restoration in Roland Park will involve relocating the existing stream and widening it to allow for wider absorption into the ground for less erosion. In addition to re-routing the stream, a rain garden will be constructed. This is a depressed area in the landscape that allows rainwater to soak into the ground. Rain gardens also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for wildlife. A grass-lined swale will also be constructed and will act as a filter for impurities that would ultimately end up in the Chesapeake Bay. Planted grasses will look natural around the park and will add to the park aesthetics.