HARRISBURG — Smethport Borough has been awarded a $250,000 grant for improvements to Hamlin Lake Park, Rep. Martin Causer R-Turtlepoint, has announced.

“Hamlin Lake offers so many recreational options to the residents of Smethport and surrounding area,” Causer said. “The improvements made possible by this grant will create even more opportunities to enjoy the park. It is a great investment in this community.”

The project involves replacing an existing pedestrian bridge in the park with a new structure that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as installing an ADA-compliant walking path to access the bridge, an ADA-compliant parking lot and a connected ADA-compliant kayak launch.

The plan reflects recommendations made in the Hamlin Lake Master Plan, developed with input of borough residents. According to the grant application, the goal is to improve the functionality of the park and make it more enjoyable and inclusive for the entire community.

The estimated total cost of the project is just under $295,000. The borough will provide 15 percent of the cost, approximately $44.000.

The grant was awarded by the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation program administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Ryan Yingling, who chairs borough council’s parks committee, said that earlier this year he had contacted the EADS Group, an engineering, architectural and design firm in Altoona to assist in finding state grants for borough projects.

Since council OK’d moving ahead with the park improvement project, the borough has been working with Dan Beyer, an engineer.

Yingling added that if the grant application was approved, the borough could be awarded the full amount or a portion of the request.

Yingling explained that the original park plan called for the kayak launch to be installed on the Willow Street side of the lake instead of its present location on the Water Street side.