I am a year late in highlighting the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man considered to be the Father of American Landscape Architecture. Born on April 26, 1822, Frederick Law Olmsted’s most notable accomplishment was constructing Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City and designing 100 other public parks. Olmsted also designed parkway systems, college campuses, planned communities, recreation areas, arboretums, cemeteries, and urban/suburban areas throughout the country, including the U.S Capitol Grounds and the gardens at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He came to my mind when I was thinking about planning. Olmsted was quoted in the year 2000 edition of the “Comprehensive Plan in Pennsylvania” that lack of planning results in a “…drifting hand-to-mouth policy of doing only what must be done today.”
Planning always seems to get the short straw, but to the credit of the Lycoming County Commissioners, they do highlight this area when they get a chance. So, it was at the Lycoming County Commissioners Meeting on March 23rd. The meeting went about an hour, and when it came time for the commissioner’s comments, Commissioner Mirabito chose his time to present the 2022 Annual Report of the Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development. He had a copy of the report and was strongly encouraging the public to read it.
This then resulted in a little confusion on exactly HOW they were to read it. Commissioner Mirabito stated that he was “guessing” it was online, then decided to make it stronger, saying, “I am willing to put a little money on the fact that it is online. Or it will be online — no, I’m sure it is online.”
Shamefully, I should have raised my hand and told him that in the time he debated with himself, I had found the document on the county’s website. And Commissioner Mirabito was right; for those who would like to know where county funds are going to go in the future, this is the place to find out.
The report starts with an excellent overview by the department’s Executive Director, Shannon L. Rossman. The first section is devoted to accounting for the $22 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, not just identifying what groups or organizations received these funds but also what these funds would be used for.
The next sections are just as informative. The Housing Starts Grants Initiative is designed to offer programs for income-based housing rehabilitation, affordable housing, and senior housing, as well as to spur an increase in development and help reduce the impact of inflation on new home prices. In 2022, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA) awarded Lycoming County $952,534 in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Funds. These funds were awarded to five different organizations, with STEP receiving three different grants in the program, each with an explanation of why these funds were needed.
Other important projects that received funding were related to hazard mitigation, transportation planning, municipal services, and other areas. It is amazing how much information is contained in just 31 pages.
Yes, it is worth reviewing this important document because it tells us where our tax money is going. However, it is also true that it is a bit tricky to find on the county’s website. It is necessary to first go to lyco.org, and on the headings, click on “Departments,” and from there, go to “Planning and Community Development.” From the list of options, click on “PCD Annual Reports.” This will bring you to the “2022 Annual Report.”
Planning is not an option, which I learned from my own experience. At the beginning of this article, I noted that I wanted to highlight one of my heroes, Frederick Law Olmsted, last year, but I forgot — poor planning on my part.
