Upper Darby has been focused on the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Three ordinances to distribute the funds have been adopted, and four will be voted on in August after being advertised. One ordinance that was adopted will allocate $1.2 million in one-time funding to sign a lease on a building for a senior center at 5037 Township Line Road in Drexel Hill. A second adopted ordinance will allot $800,000 of one-time funding for rent, remodeling and operating costs to the nonprofit Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation for the Barclay Square Arts and Education Center. A third adopted ordinance authorizes $825,000 to purchase three trash trucks. A draft ordinance to spend $2 million in ARPA funds to improve the police station was approved to be advertised. Council also moved forward with a $250,000 proposed ordinance to use ARPA funds for renovations to the Watkins Center, as well as $1.9 million to be allocated for the Upper Darby Fire Department. Another ordinance to be advertised will allocate $3.8 million in funding for streetscape improvements in the business districts. A final ordinance to spend $2 million in ARPA funding to upgrade parks in the township was tabled. 
Source: Daily Times; 7/15/2023