A brand-new look: New Philadelphia gets $2.9 million grant for facelift to downtown
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ The city has received a $2.9 million state grant to overhaul the appearance of three of the four quadrants in the courthouse square, a project that Mayor Joel Day says will be transformational for New Philadelphia.
The grant is part of Ohio's Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative, with $152 million awarded to communities in 12 Appalachian counties to expand access to local waterways, revitalize historic riverfront downtowns and create new tourism and recreational opportunities. New Philadelphia officials learned that the city was a recipient of the funding when they traveled to Marietta earlier this month to meet with Gov. Mike DeWine.
According to Service Director Ron McAbier, work will be done on the three quadrants in the courthouse square owned by the city ‒ the northwest quadrant, known as the Gazebo Quadrant, the southwest quadrant, known as the Gavin's Quadrant, and the southeast quadrant, known as the House of Stones Quadrant.
Much of the work will be done in the Gazebo Quadrant, which currently has steps leading down to a paved area. It will be leveled to make the area accessible to everyone, he said. There will be all new landscaping, all new tables and chairs, new lighting and more green areas.
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Seating and tables will also be installed in the Gavin's Quadrant, along with more grass areas. The surface will be redone on all three quadrants, McAbier said.
Welcome arches will be installed on all four entrances to the downtown ‒ on South Broadway, North Broadway, East High Avenue and West High Avenue.
Making downtown a destination
"The whole thought behind the Appalachian Community Grant Program was to create something transformational in a community," Day said. "This is a transformational project for New Philadelphia. This redesign of three of the four quadrants will give a brand-new look to our downtown. The gateway arches will really make it attractive. Downtown New Philadelphia will become more of a destination than what it is now.
"And I'm hoping that this spurs more investment in downtown New Philadelphia in the buildings and in the businesses. That's really what we hope to achieve and give people a downtown where they'll want to come hang out, because it's going to be beautiful, so functional. We'll be able to have more events downtown because of the redesign."
The grant will pay for the entire cost of the project, McAbier said. No local money will be involved.
He hopes that work can begin in spring 2025 and be finished by October 2025.
"This project is just fabulous for the city," McAbier said. "Those downtown quadrants are tired. I think it's time to do a facelift. I hope it creates some buzz downtown, gets some people to go downtown."
Orion the horse
Plans include keeping the sculpture of Orion the horse, which is located in front of the House of Stones. "That will still be part of the downtown. That will still be part of that quadrant. Orion stays, just a different, nicer base," he said.
Funding for Ohio's Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative is being awarded through the larger Appalachian Community Grant Program, which is investing $500 million into Ohio's 32-county Appalachian region.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia gets grant to overhaul look of downtown square
