Lewisburg Neighborhoods planning a covered bus stop at Hufnagle Park

Apr. 15—LEWISBURG — Lewisburg Neighborhoods aims to establish a covered bus stop at Hufnagle Park.

Lewisburg Neighborhoods Executive Director Taylor Lightman said the project, funded by the 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation as a part of the community's broader efforts to revitalize Hufnagle Park, would add convenience for many people using the bus system in the borough. One possible proposal is to move the Purple Heart Memorial less than half a block from its original location along Hufnagle Park on Market Street to the area around the American flag.

"Currently, the bus stop is designed to be a simple covered shelter with a bench and a place to advertise the bus timetables," said Lightman. "We are working with Ted Strosser of Strosser Baer Architects to design this amenity. We were able to opt to have something custom designed that is aesthetically in conversation with our historic downtown rather than a prefab shelter."

Taylor said 2,532 people rode the intercity bus system between March 23 and 24 and either embarked from or disembarked in Lewisburg.

"When we surveyed members of the public about climate action in the borough, residents largely claimed they were least satisfied with 'access to public transportation' at 84.3 percent," said Lightman. "The goal of the covered bus stop is to add convenience for the many people that already use the system. Hopefully, the public display of the timetable and a more public stop will help advertise this amenity as well and spur greater ridership."

Lightman said the organization needs "to meaningfully engage and consult with our local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart about this before we move forward with anything. I met with the chair onsite to discuss our proposal and representatives of the project will be at their forthcoming April meeting to discuss this further."

The Purple Heart Monument was dedicated on Aug. 17, 2002, by the Lt. George H. Ramer Chapter 654 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Strosser said one bus shelter makes the most logistical sense on Market Street in that location, but establishing it there "really crowds that location." The proposal is to move the monument toward a newly established flag pole.

"This little flag court was created with a lit flag pole," said Strosser. "We think this is a perfect location to just move the monument.

"It has a nice relationship with the American flag. It sets it up a little more with that brick court, a nicer spot to appreciate the monument."