Butler City will receive a $124,950 grant through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP) for upgrades to Ritts Park, Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, announced Wednesday.

The state grant will cover 85% of the $147,000 project, which supports rehabilitation and development improvements.

The project includes the rehabilitating of the Ritts monument's seating area, installing a 10-station fit trail, converting of an old, unusable tennis court into a pickleball court, restoring the walkway, changing the landscaping and planting native plants.

The funding was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) at a meeting in Harrisburg.

“I am pleased funding was approved for this project,” said Mustello. “While these improvements will certainly attract many new visitors to the park, equally important is its impact on the quality of life for the current and future residents in Butler City and Butler Township that live in nearby neighborhoods. Projects like this can help create an atmosphere that draws new residents to the area, which can stimulate the local economy.”

The CFA was established as an independent agency of the state and holds fiduciary responsibility over program funding and investments related to economic growth.

“These CFA grants have gone a long way in many areas to help promote improvements in recreational areas and develop local programs,” said Mustello. “I will continue to work hard to support the municipalities in my district in their efforts to obtain future CFA grants and to make our district a better place to work, live and play.”