ADA-compliant Bump Outs Installed on Main Street by the Park
Installing ADA-compliant curb ramp bump outs at mid-block street crossings serves multiple purposes and offers significant benefits. These bump outs extend the sidewalk into the parking lane, reducing the crossing distance for pedestrians and enhancing their visibility to drivers. This design not only calms traffic by narrowing the roadway, encouraging slower vehicle speeds, but also ensures accessibility for all pedestrians, including those with disabilities, in accordance with PennDOT standards. By improving safety and accessibility, these curb ramp bump outs create a more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly environment.
PRESS RELEASE: NOVEMBER 22, 2024
An updated Kutztown video tour is coming soon!
Watch a message from Mayor Schlegel:
PRESS RELEASE: MAY 5, 2023
Borough of Kutztown Receives National Recognition for Electric Reliability
KUTZTOWN, PA – For a fourth consecutive year, the American Public Power Association (APPA) has presented the Borough of Kutztown with a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability.
The Certificate of Excellence in Reliability recognizes utilities that placed in the top 25th percentile of reliability nationwide in 2022, as measured against the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) data. The APPA helps public power systems track outage and restoration data through its eReliability Tracker service and compares the data to national statistics tracked by the EIA.
“Kutztown’s commitment to reliable electric service is commendable,” said Jolene Thompson, American Municipal Power, Inc. president and CEO. “This recognition shows how dedicated Kutztown Electric Department is to serving its customers.”
PRESS RELEASE: MAY 9, 2022
The Borough of Kutztown Recognized for Drinking Water Cleanliness and Performance
KUTZTOWN, PA – For the tenth consecutive year, the Borough of Kutztown Water Treatment Plant has received the prestigious Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award from the Water Works Operators’ Association of Pennsylvania (WWOAP). To highlight this achievement, the Water Plant will receive a personalized crystal “10 Year AWOP Award” at the annual WWOAP conference in October.
AWOP is a national filter plant optimization effort toward optimizing filter plant turbidity, or drinking water cleanliness, and performance. It is a joint effort among numerous states, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and the water operators. The top performing filter plants that submitted their 2021 turbidity data will receive an AWOP Award this year; 16 large filter plants (serving >10,000 people) will be presented with AWOP Awards; and only three of those plants, which includes the Borough of Kutztown, will receive the crystal award.
“This is only possible due to the hard work and dedication of our operators as well as Borough Council’s support,” said Troy Smith, the Borough’s Water Plant Manager.For more information on the Borough of Kutztown’s water system and its commitment to clean water, visit https://www.kutztownboro.org/departments/water/.
PRESS RELEASE: March 31, 2022
The Borough of Kutztown Recognized for Reliable Electric Service to the Community
KUTZTOWN, PA –For a third consecutive year, the Borough of Kutztown has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2021. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.
APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities.
“Once again, public power utilities have demonstrated their commitment to providing highly reliable power to their customers.” said Alex Hofmann, APPA’s Vice President of Technical and Operations Services. “We commend these utilities for their hard work when it comes to keeping the lights on in their communities.”
Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do.
“We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff to ensure that we keep Kutztown powered,” said Steve Diehl, the Borough’s Electric Superintendent.
Compared to the national reliability data collected by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Borough’s reliability data compiled through the eReliability Tracker is in the top 25% of utilities for System Average Interruption Duration Index.
For more information on the Borough of Kutztown’s electric system and its commitment to reliability, visit https://www.kutztownboro.org/departments/electric/.
UPDATED PRESS RELEASE: June 17, 2021
The Borough of Kutztown Awarded $674,844.00 Multimodal Transportation Grant
KUTZTOWN, PA – On April 22, 2021, the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded the Borough of Kutztown a $674,844.00 grant for Multimodal Transportation projects that will focus on making Kutztown a walkable community and developing “streets as places,” which can mean the difference between a monotonous route and a destination people want to return to.
Borough Manager Gabriel Khalife said that the grant will be used “to assist with improvements and enhancements to make the Borough more walkable and accessible for pedestrian traffic and ADA compliance, and to connect pedestrian traffic to the community. The Borough will invest an additional $147,000.00 to the proposed scope of work.”
Kutztown Community Partnership/Kutztown University Community Liaison, Sandy Green, said, “Our goal is to make Kutztown a safe and walkable community by creating an Art and History Self-Guided Walking Route. The goal of this project is to promote walking in Kutztown by engaging a diverse set of community partners to help enhance the social infrastructure and to leverage existing visual assets, such as public art; architecture; and historical cultural sites, to promote walking as a form of active transportation.”
To that end, the funding will go a long way in helping Borough officials with their multi-faceted plan to make the town easier to navigate for both pedestrians and motorists. Per Council Vice President, Derek Mace, “The sidewalk and intersection improvements will increase walkability and equitable access for all residents and visitors of the Borough.”
State Senator Judy Schwank commended Borough officials for “their vision and foresight to pursue a project to make an already friendly Borough more welcoming for residents and visitors alike,” and State Representative Gary Day was pleased to see the award go to Kutztown as he thinks it is “one of the most walkable Boroughs in Berks.”
Borough officials thank everyone involved in working toward the good of the community in securing this grant from the state, and they invite visitors to town before and after the projects are completed!
CFA Multimodal Improvements (PDF) | CFA Multimodal Exhibit (PDF)
PRESS RELEASE: April 1, 2021
Borough of Kutztown Recognized for Reliable Electric Service to the Community
KUTZTOWN, PA – The Borough of Kutztown has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2020. For the second consecutive year, this recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.
APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eReliability Tracker service. Once per year, APPA’s Reliability Team compares this data to national statistics tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for all types of electric utilities.
“Public power utilities have proven their commitment to serving their community by continuing to lead the nation in reliability,” said Alex Hofmann, APPA’s Vice President of Technical and Operations Services. “These utilities are the best of the best when it comes to keeping the lights on in their communities.”
Nationwide, the average public power customer has their lights out for less than half the amount of time that customers of other types of utilities do.
“We are proud to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the hard work of our staff to ensure that we keep the Borough of Kutztown powered,” said Steven Diehl, Electric Superintendent for the Borough.
For more information on the Borough of Kutztown’s electric department, visit their Web page.
UPDATED ARTICLE: February 26, 2021
International Pen Pal Program Between Kutztown, PA, and Altrip Germany!
Welcome to the International Pen Pal Program between Kutztown, PA, and Altrip, Germany!
View the Full Resolution (PDF)
With that in mind, the pen pal program was created to help the members of our two cities get to know each other as our town twinning relationship develops. This program, created by the Kutztown Community Library, is a collaboration with the Borough of Kutztown and Mayor Jim Schlegel, the Kutztown Area Historical Society, and the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center.
The pen pal program is the first step in fostering a sense of community between our town and Altrip, Germany. Even though we are almost 4,000 miles apart and can’t travel right now, we can explore each other’s towns and countries.
At your own pace, you can write to your pen pal using our recommended question prompts, or choose your own topics. Children ages 12 and up can write to each other with parent supervision. Participants will drop off completed letters (no need to stamp) at the library to be mailed together to protect privacy. If you’d like and both participants are willing, you can email your pen pal instead. Small, light gifts that fit inside an envelope can be sent as well.
To register, fill out the form, by using the link below or downloading the PDF, with your information and any preferences you would have for a pen pal. Do you only want to write to someone of your own age or gender? Do you want to write to someone who likes to garden? We will do our best to match you with someone that fits your preferences. Printed forms can be completed and returned to the library.
You will receive your pen pal assignment via email. An optional pen pal kit will soon be available for $5. It includes letter writing supplies, stickers, conversation prompts, and other fun things. Happy writing!
Complete Your Pen Pal Program Registration Online
Download the Registration Form (PDF)
PRESS RELEASE: January 21, 2021
The Borough of Kutztown Installs a ChargePoint Electric Vehicle Charging Station
KUTZTOWN, PA – In mid-November, 2020, the Borough of Kutztown installed a ChargePoint electric vehicle charging station that can accommodate charging two cars at once. This unit provides approximately 20 miles of drive time after one hour of charging.
Purchased through a commonwealth grant, the Borough will receive $9,000.00 of the $10,000.00 purchase price back!
Borough officials hope that the ChargePoint station will bring electric vehicle owners in to Kutztown, while traveling, and then make it a future destination. It also makes for a great charging pit stop between Reading and Allentown.
Since the charging station was made available in December, local resident Scot Horst has been thrilled! “What a wonderful surprise to see and use the ChargePoint charger installed at the municipal lot in Kutztown. I believe it will be an attraction for many motorists as they drive through the area. Since I purchased an all-electric car in 2016, I joined all of the charging networks and I plan my trips around the chargers. It’s so great to see the network expanding, and it says a lot about Kutztown to have one here. A town that is so steeped in history, and yet has an eye on the future, is a very interesting place. I believe electric vehicles are the future of transportation and charging will be even more essential as new car companies expand their electric vehicle offerings.”
The ChargePoint electric vehicle charging station is available in the Kutztown municipal parking lot, located at 22 S. Whiteoak Street, and the charging cost per hour is $1.35.
ARTICLE: April 7, 2020
10 Great Things to Do Near Kutztown University
Read the article on UncoveringPA.com
