MAYOR’ S
Corner
MICHAEL CHEREPKO cKeesport CITY OF MCKEESPORT NEWS
With a busy summer recreation season behind us and plenty of city projects under way, the City of McKeesport isn’ t slowing down. We are continuing to push full speed ahead with the McKeesport Rising Project, which includes blight removal and infrastructure improvements.
As readers will recall, when 2017 came to a close, I made a commitment for city departments to make a major investment in our community’ s infrastructure and neighborhoods when I revealed plans to revitalize the city with“ The McKeesport Rising Project.” To date, 2018 has brought a widespread demolition and infrastructure improvement endeavor utilizing a new $ 2.5 million line item to target blight, preserve our neighborhoods, and improve our roadways. As public servants, we are here to uplift the McKeesport community by improving residents’ quality of life today, while also guaranteeing the stability they will need in coming years.
“ McKeesport Rising” has afforded the City of McKeesport an opportunity to place approximately 300 homes on contracts for demolition. In the fall, we will conduct another round of condemnation hearings that will prepare us for additional demolition projects in 2019. I would say the razing of these 300 structures in the first three phases of the McKeesport Rising Project is a necessary step in our objective to rebuild – not only by clearing land for residential and commercial development, but reminding McKeesporters that they truly deserve to live in safe, beautiful neighborhoods.
On the paving side of this project, city crews and contractors are milling and paving streets across the City’ s 12 wards.
All of these improvements are helping the McKeesport community – not only in improving the quality of life for our City’ s current residents, but in helping attract new businesses and new residents. Another draw to our community is the full lineup of seasonal activities that took place this summer
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– many of which you will see in this quarter’ s edition of In McKeesport Area magazine. From our cover story on“ The Wall That Heals” to coverage of annual favorites such as International Village and the Renzie Rib Fest, you will see that the City of McKeesport has something for everyone.
In these pages, you will get a glimpse of the good news that took place in the summer of 2018. In the fall, I hope that you will join us for the Youth Tennis Clinic on September 29 at 10 a. m. and the McKeesport Mayhem wrestling event under the Blue-Top Pavilion at 6 p. m. on September 29. We also have a Halloween Parade on October 27 at 10 a. m. in Renzie Park.
Our annual Salute to Santa Parade and Children’ s Party are planned for Saturday, November 17. This year, we are hoping for beautiful weather and an impressive turnout. Any community group or business that wishes to participate in this year’ s parade is welcome to call my office at 412.675.5020, ext. 605, to register.
In this edition, you will meet our quarterly Living the Message awardees selected by the McKeesport Message Committee, a subcommittee of my Select Committee on Crime and Violence. This season’ s awardees are Rachael Richter, LuEthel Nesbit, Alison Piccolino, Jackie Flajnik, and Stu Wilson. In our community, we have folks of all ages and backgrounds doing their part to make McKeesport a better place for everyone. That’ s something I truly appreciate and take great pride in recognizing.
As always, I will end this letter with an invitation to join your friends and neighbors in carrying out my administration’ s motto of“ Working Together for a Better McKeesport.” This slogan is an invitation for everyone who lives, works, and worships in the City of McKeesport to make a positive impact in our community. I am extremely very thankful for every resident and business owner who invests in our community, and together we can continue to make positive strides.