Fredericktown lands $100,000 grant for phase three of streetscape

FREDERICKTOWN — From the design stages to the actual construction of Fredericktown’s streetscape phases, things are moving along swimmingly.

On Nov. 3, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), in partnership with the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO), approved a $100,000 federal grant for the design and engineering of phase three of Fredericktown’s sidewalk improvements.

CORPO also funded seven other communities’ projects across Ohio with this round of funding, allocating a total of $2.4 million, according to a press release.

Phase Three of the streetscape project will revitalize nearly 1,500 linear feet of sidewalk on Columbus Road, add new decorative lighting and put in new trees to replace some overgrown ones.

“The project is focused on connectivity of all ages and will be ADA-compliant,” Fredericktown Village Administrator Bruce Snell said.

“The sidewalk there is probably 50 to 75 years old, and it’s sunken and raised. We’ve had some seniors fall there and injure themselves, nothing serious, nothing required hospitalization, but some significant, but not serious injuries, and we want to prevent that, obviously.”

Compared to the previous Fredericktown’s streetscape phases, Snell said this is the first time they’ve received a grant for design and engineering.

The village paid for phases one and two design and engineering out-of-pocket using a general fund.

Snell said the village will begin phase three’s engineering and design in 2026, with construction starting in 2029.

Phase three construction costs and phase two updates

The village anticipates phase three’s construction to cost about $850,000, and is looking to repeat their funding process.

Like previous phases, Snell said he hopes to have phase three’s construction covered by the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Transportation Alternative Funding (TAP).

Snell said the South Main to Sixth Street part of phase two will start construction in 2028, and the other side of phase two, West Sandusky Street improvements, will start in 2027.

“Phase two of the streetscape will be the South Main project, from the square down to Sixth Street,” Snell said. “That’s a similar project, we’re just replacing the sidewalk on both sides and replacing street lights, taking the steps out and putting an ADA-compliant sidewalk in.”

The village has already secured TAP funding for the 2027 and 2028 projects, respectively.

(Below is a table that breaks down the key information about each phase of the streetscape project.)

Phase #	Cost (with design/engineering and construction)	Design/engineering and construction grant-funded?	When does construction start?
1	about $1.6 million	Yes for construction, no for design and engineering.	COMPLETED
2	about $1 million	Yes for construction, no for design and engineering.	2026 or 2027 – West Sandusky Street 2028 – South Main Street
3	about $950,000	Yes for both.	2029

Total cost: about $3.5 million