From The Uniontown Herald-Standard 

By PATTY YAUGER, Herald Standard

CONNELLSVILLE - As a former third-class city mayor and a main street manager, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources acting Secretary John Quigley understands the plight of Connellsville as the city struggles to revitalize the community.

On Friday, he commended local officials and its partners who have joined together to make improvements along the city's portion of the Great Allegheny Passage and plan for its future.

"The city has a great plan," he said. "I've looked at all the renderings and design guidelines and they are doing it the right way.

"(The officials) have a wonderful vision that is captivating. It's exciting and we are happy to be a part of it."

Quigley said that the city has embraced the trail and made it a building block for future economic development.

"It is smart," he said. "It is what communities across the state are doing, connecting to their natural resources and recreational opportunities. It is key to their economic revitalization."

The Progress Fund/Trail Town Program director Cathy McCollom said that Quigley had yet to visit the Laurel Highlands area since his appointment and wanted to become familiar with southwestern Pennsylvania.

"It was important to him to see the communities that we are working with," she said. "Yesterday, we were in Ohiopyle and today in Connellsville to look at the work being done in Yough Park, which DCNR has helped fund, along with (state) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. We have a pending (grant) application with DCNR for next year."

The city has made application through the DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) seeking $200,000 for the second phase of the Yough Park renovation project.

The funding, if approved, would allow for the addition of an asphalt path along the riverbank, play areas for children, a bike wash, the upgrade of restroom facilities and the stabilization of the riverbank with foliage and stone.

Mayor Judy Reed, along with Connellsville Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Michael Edwards, who led the tour through Yough Park and along the city's portion of the bike trail into the city to showcase various landmarks and new businesses, said that it was an honor to have Quigley visit the city.

"It is very fortunate to have the opportunity to show him all the amenities that we have in the city to help with the overall development of recreation in southwestern Pennsylvania," said Reed. "We are willing to work with any organization to make Connellsville a better place for its residents and visitors."

Edwards said that the years of planning by the city is beginning to catch the attention of funding agencies.

"People are now sharing our vision and understanding what we have been working on," he said. "We are now ready to bring many of these long-awaited projects to fruition."

The partnerships that have been formed by the city with the DCNR, state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and the Progress Fund/Trail Town Program, said Quigley, will be vital to taking the plans from the drawing board to implementation.

"It is an exciting opportunity," he said. "The city is onto something here and we're excited to be a part of it."

Also taking part in the city tour were DCNR Bureau of Conservation representatives Tracy Stack and Frances Stein; DCNR Conservation Landscape Program representative Lauren Imgrund; Gretchen Leslie, DCNR press secretary; John Norbeck, DCNR Bureau of State Parks director; Linda McKenna Boxx, Allegheny Trail Alliance president; Dr. James Segedy, PEC community planning director; Brad Clemenson, PEC senior project manager; Jack Machek, DCED regional director; Joy Ruff, DCED regional community planner; and Dexston Reed, Connellsville Redevelopment Authority chairman.