HARMONY — Ben Levenger, president of Downtown Redevelopment Services, said there were no limits on what residents could propose for the use of grant money received by the borough — and residents certainly lived up to that in a Thursday meeting to set a revitalization road map.

The money — about $167,000 — is part of a $500,000 award from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program that will fund streetscape and downtown revitalization in Zelienople and Harmony.

Zelienople will receive about $333,000.

To create the road map, the borough and Levenger set up multiple interactive stations where residents drew lines on maps to indicate traffic congestion or unsafe pedestrian areas; put stickers on posters to vote for storefronts and signs; and used blocks to indicate how they would like to see mixed-use buildings organized.

Ranging from major proposals, such as Planning Commission Chairman Joe White's idea to close part of Main Street to vehicular traffic, to minor changes, like installing flower baskets, ideas from residents and the consultant covered a range of issues they believe will make the borough more inviting.

“Zelienople did the same thing seven years ago. They started out with flower baskets and flags,” Levenger said. “And I think everybody knows where it snowballed into at this point.”

There was some pushback against the possibility of major change, citing the borough's historic nature.

“I want us to be able ... to preserve and save the history of this community,” said Delsa White, a member of the Historic Architectural Review Board. “So I get a little worried if I hear, 'OK, we're going to have banners here, we're going to have flowers over there, we're going to have a new color over here.'”

But, Levenger said, the borough can preserve its history while refreshing its downtown facade.

“No one in here is saying we need a clean slate here. You need to pay homage to your history,” he said. “But you also have to find a way to keep things newer, so there's got to be a happy middle of the road.”

Others were more accepting of potential changes, saying a program like this leaves open the possibility of a more refreshing downtown.

“I think it's something the town is in need of, and I think it would only bring good and positive things,” said Kirsten Peffer, owner of the Two Fraus Bakery.

Some of the more major proposals were made by leaving notes on the map designated for pedestrian areas. White left a recommendation to designate Main Street from German Street to Mercer Road as a pedestrian-only zone.

Mayor Cathy Rape brought nine suggestions she had for the revitalization, including standardizing the town's sidewalks and adding more protective poles to the town square.

The recommendations will be reviewed and compiled into a report by Oct. 7, Levenger said. At that point there will be a second public meeting.