Ornamental lighting along the biking/hiking trail in the linear park was specified to match earlier lighting that had been installed along the sidewalk at the ballpark

In addition, new federal requirements were issued during construction that affected design standards for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additional ADA access locations and redesign of original features were likewise incorporated in a timely manner and did not impact the project construction schedule.

Benefiting from cooperation. Today, as one drives along the improved Park Avenue, a number of features that provide enduring value to the community are evident – the linear park, bus pull-offs in front of the ballpark, and ADA amenities at major intersections.

However, many additional features and details that may be less apparent were also included in the design. For example, the ornamental lighting along the biking/hiking trail in the linear park was specified to match earlier lighting that had been installed along the sidewalk at the ballpark. In addition, benches have been provided along the trail for pedestrians. A man-made ditch along the linear park diverts storm runoff into detention basins at opposite ends of the project, and the basins have been planted with vegetation to preserve the area’s wetlands resources and attract native wildlife. Amenities such as these will stay with the community for years to come, beautifying an area that attracts so many for recreation, shopping, and other leisure activities.

Aerial view of the completed Park Avenue project, which integrated land planning with transportation improvements to address unique site characteristics

Other benefits provided by the project have to do with the well-being of businesses located among the Lakemont attractions. One visible result of the project team’s work with the local stakeholders was the redesign and construction of a driveway and additional parking area outside the offices of Delta Health. Because a daycare center was opened during project construction at this location, the scope was expanded to include these amenities, providing safe and convenient access for the children.  Other business concerns that were successfully addressed included reconfiguration of parking for the Lakemont Business Park, the VIP parking lot for the Altoona Curve, a new bus entrance at Lakemont Park, and maintenance access and security facilities at the park.

The redesign of Park Avenue was completed on schedule despite intense public involvement and complexities inherent in the project. PennDOT District 9-0 gave the project an overall “Exceeds Expectations” rating in its final performance evaluation. In addition, the final project construction cost of $10.7 million was more than $1 million below the original design estimate.

This article was contributed on behalf of Erdman Anthony.