The Bucks County Commissioners on Tuesday approved open space money to help fund the Bristol Borough floating docks project.
The commissioners voted to approve $520,000 that will be used for the project. Officials said the money will come from the county’s open space funds. Martin voted against the motion while commissioners Robert Loughery and Diane Marseglia voted to approve it.
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Commissioner Charlie Martin questioned whether the project was economic development or open space. According to officials, no additional open space will be added using the money.
Loughery told Martin the project involves both open space and economic development.
Officials said during Tuesday’s meeting the county open space board recommended providing the borough with the money. Last year, the county open fund grant provided $480,000 for the project. The project received a large grant from the United State Fish and Wildlife Service in the spring of 2013.
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The floating docks are expected to handle more than two dozen boats and cost just under $2.4 million.
Bristol Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said last year that the project is “an anchor to the future” for the historic riverside town. Borough leaders hope the easy riverside access will lead to an economic boost for the local economy.
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Bill Pezza, chairperson of the Bristol’s economic development committee, said at a 2013 announcement press conference that the project will “convey the message that great things can happen in Bristol Borough.”
No start date for the project has been announced but Bristol leaders said the project will take several months to complete. The plan is currently going through the last steps of the bureaucratic byzantine of signatures and paperwork.
