Callahan Park may get some much-needed TLC in the coming years, thanks to Bradford City’s 2018 Community Development Block Grant allocation.

Proposed repairs to the park were one of several projects discussed during a public CDBG hearing held Tuesday just prior to the city’s regular council meeting.

Callahan Park updates was one of the projects slated to happen over the next three years, according to Sara Andrews, executive director of the local Office of Economic and Community Development.

She said it’s been about 20 years since park facilities have been upgraded.

“After 20 years, it’s starting to deteriorate a bit,” Andrews said.

She mentioned coming up with a master plan for work, which could include the pool, the bathhouse, the tennis courts and playground equipment such as the slide.

Mayor Tom Riel said there have been complaints recently about the park’s condition, but he added that the facility was inspected last week and passed.

Chip Comilla, director of parks and public works, said they have been making fixes in areas such as concessions, admissions and the showers.

Other projects over the next three years include continuing to address the housing stock and completing streetscape improvements to some of the side streets downtown, according to Andrews.

Regarding the 2018 funding, Bradford has an increase of more than $26,000 this year in funding and will apply for $296,243 in CDBG funding, she said.

A 2016 survey found that 69.3 percent of respondents were low to middle income, so funding can be used for city-wide benefit, not just specific areas.

The 2018 funding can be used to help with a second year of funding for the historic Bradford streetscape project, to remove some of the roughly 70 blighted properties that are up for demolition and to support housing rehab projects for homeowners city-wide who qualify.

According to Andrews, CDBG funding over the last five years has been used for projects such as rehabilitating 16 owner-occupied units; demolishing 30 blighted properties; new welcome signage, engineering and landscaping; streetscape improvements on Davis, Elm, Park and Jefferson streets and Tibbetts and Leland Avenue; and computer equipment for the new property maintenance department.

A total of $656,404 in CDBG funding was spent during those five years.

A second CDBG hearing will be held in September.

At the regular council meeting, the Rev. Stacey Fussell came forward with concerns about the uniforms of the private company that was hired as Festa Italiana security.

She described in detail the official-looking uniforms that made them look like law enforcement officials — which they are not.

“They even had Walker Texas Ranger cowboy hats,” Fussell said.

She explained that parents teach their children that police officers are safe individuals to approach if they are in trouble. However, she does not know if there is a vetting process for security personnel or whether they are safe adults.

Fussell wondered about background checks and training for the security personnel.

“I’d like some kind of assurance that they are safe people,” she said.

Riel noted the security personnel are “not representing the city of Bradford” and were actually hired through a private company.

Police Chief Chris Lucco said the only time the security help with city-involved activities is parades and traffic control.

“I definitely had an issue as well with the situation this weekend,” Lucco said. “This is an issue that will be addressed before next year.”

He noted that the Italian Festival committee has been open to suggestions he’s made in the past.

Councilman Brad Mangel said the city has started a new program to deal with unmowed grass.

They will investigate complaints as they come in, and violators will have 10 days to address the issue. If the property owner does not mow, the city will find a way to address the high grass, and the violator will have to pay a fine of at least $300, as well as administrative costs.

Regarding garbage pickup, Mangel reminded residents they are not allowed to put their garbage out before 5 p.m. the night before their garbage is to be picked up, and garbage must be put in cans.

Also at the meeting, Rita Costello, who lives on what was the original Seaward Avenue, approached council about the condition of her road.

“It hasn’t been paved in over 45 years,” Costello said.

Comilla agreed that the road was not in good condition and said he would come out and look at it.

Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Aug. 28.