SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock Development, despite not having huge projects, still is active.

“It’s mostly maintenance, repairs, and so on,” said President Bill Sonntag.

On April 12, the nonprofit group participated in the sixth annual Polish the Rock cleanup day.

He said 70 volunteers picked up more than 30 tons of antiskid material on the roads, which filled seven dump trucks.

“I don’t know how the street sweeper would be able to do it,” said project manager Tom McPherson.

Cindi Dillon, a member of the group, said it is looking at replacing trees planted along sidewalks downtown. Currently, all of the trees are Cleveland pear trees.

She said if you plant only one type of tree and a disease that attacks that kind rolls into town, all of them will be affected. So, she said tree diversity is important. She said the group is working with two arborists to figure out what trees would work best.

“We’re taking this seriously,” Dillon said.

Sonntag said the project could cost up to $500 per tree.

The group also is planning to repair leaning retaining walls along the east side of South Main Street. He said poor drainage behind the wall could be responsible for the condition.

“That may be a project for this fall,” Sonntag said.

He said that light poles downtown are not holding paint, and the group is talking about what to do.

McPherson said that the wooden signs placed along highways coming into the borough recently were refurbished and repainted, and the group is planning on adding banners along Franklin Street.

Sonntag said there used to be a New Year’s Eve party at the Newman Center, but it has not taken place for years. The group is looking at holding a New Year’s event that also would act as a fundraiser. No details have been hammered out yet, but the party optimistically could be held at the end of this year, he said.

“We’re still in the discussion stage,” Sonntag said.

At the end of 2013, the group created a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SLipperyRockDevelopment. It also has a website, www.slipperyrockpa.org/slippery-rock-development.

“We’re trying to help with community awareness,” Dillon said.

She also said the group collaborates with Slippery Rock In Bloom, the Slippery Rock Business Association and the borough.

When the group was formed in 2002, the main topic of discussion was that South Main Street at the time did not make for an attractive entrance to Slippery Rock University.

The first and largest projects the group worked on were the rehabilitations of South Main and Franklin streets. The $5.3 million South Main rehab started in 2003 and finished in 2005. The $1.6 million Franklin rehab started in 2007 and finished in 2009.

Sonntag said the group still would like to develop a revolving $200,000 fund for projects, but he said that is a long way off. McPherson said the group raised $40,000 during the past two years.

Sonntag said donations always are welcome at Slippery Rock Development, P.O. Box 273, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 or srockdevelopment@aol.com.