With just three months left to use or lose $1 million in federal grant money earmarked for community development needs, Reading officials came up with a plan to help the Reading Housing Authority complete a large-scale improvement project at Oakbrook Homes.
All that’s needed is City Council approval.
The money had been allocated for sidewalk repairs throughout the city, but that project cannot be completed before the time runs out, said Jamar Kelly, city finance and deputy managing director.
Instead of viewing it as a problem, city administrators saw an opportunity to push the sidewalk project to a future funding round and reallocate the soon-to-expire funds to another community project, Kelly said Monday at council’s committee of the whole meeting.
After some consideration, they hit upon Oakbrook, he said.
The housing authority already invested nearly $10 million in a multiphase project at the 530-unit public housing development, the authority’s largest.
Oakbrook is home to about 1,600 residents, more than half of them children.
The current phase focuses on outdoor spaces, including an overhaul of the central playground and baseball field, but there is a shortfall.
Coincidentally, it is just about the amount the city has to spend. And the project will fit the city’s timeline, Kelly said.
“So with your approval and blessing of their project next week,” Kelly said, “we’re going to be able to do another big project over in the Oakbrook area.”
The outdoor recreational space is in the heart of the community and it is well-used,” said Stacey J. Keppen, authority executive director.
Improvements there will build on those already made to interior spaces at Oakbrook, including a new Neighborhood Resource Center that offers child care and education, employment and family services.
That facility will officially open with a ribbon-cutting next week.
David Talarico, authority vice president and director of facilities, said the current playground equipment at Oakbrook was installed in 1995 and is far past its usable life.
The proposed improvements will include new play equipment, a pavilion, restrooms and water features.
The city funding would allow expansion of the project to include the baseball field, which has deep roots in the community.
It was very active in the 1970s when a city-county league played there, but use fell off in the 1990s and the field was neglected, Talarico said.
After he and about five others skimmed the grass off the infield, use resumed, he said.
“Within a week or so, people were playing ball,” he said. “People just came out there with the kids. And next thing you know, there were pickup games.”
On Saturdays and Sundays, there would be about 100 people. They lined the field with lawn chairs and brought grills for family cookouts.
“It was a community event,” Talarico said, “and it all just happened organically.”
He would like to see that type of use restored.
Project architect Theodore Vedock said the upgraded field will include new dugouts, an announcer’s booth with storage underneath, and accessible paths, picnic stations, grills, lighting and security features.
Vedock, a principal with Hammel Associates Architects, Lancaster, said ADA accessibility and durability were key goals of the design.
Council members voiced strong support for the project.
Councilman Rafael Nunez shared a personal story about living in public housing and receiving a scholarship from the authority. That helped launch his academic and professional careers, he said.
Councilman Jaime Baez Jr., who grew up in Oakbrook, said he was glad to see the area getting attention.
“Oakbrook is like home to me,” he said. “I’m really happy to see this project move forward.”
Resident Jovanny Amoros Bracero, a Temple University sophomore and council intern who has lived in Oakbrook 11 years, also shared how meaningful the improvements would be for residents.
“It truly means a lot,” he said. “I’m so happy to see something like this happen.”
If approved by City Council, the authority will ready to break ground within days, said Jonathan Runkle, director of administration for the authority.
Council is expected to vote on the funding next week.