2026 Annual Public Meeting

On Tuesday April 28, 2026, Building a Better Boyertown hosted our annual meeting that was open for community members to attend.  The event started with the Honorable Senator Tracy Pennycuick officially presenting BaBB with a $150,000 check from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account grant program.  The funding was used to purchase 7.39 acres of land in Colebrookdale Township as an integral part of the Iron Valley Trail Project spearheaded by Building a Better Boyertown.  This funding was made possible with the assistance of the Greater Berks Development Fund, a division of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance as well as the Senator advocating on our behalf at the Capital. 

Main Street Manager, Ellen Martignetti, shared Main Street America’s 4 Point Approach to community transformation and the impact Building a Better Boyertown has had on the community since they were formed in 2002.

•      $300,000 in historic façade improvements – grant funded with owner investment

•      $3.5 million in streetscape improvements – grant funded

•      $300,000 Anchor Building Revitalization Grant Loan – 1 restaurant (Grind), 4 housing units, 44 local jobs

•      Revolving Loan Fund – reinvestment back into downtown Boyertown

•      $150,000 land acquisition grant for Phase 1 of the Iron Valley Trail

•      15,000 attendees at our 4 major annual events in 2025

She went on to recognize the work of their many volunteers and how their support is integral to the organization’s success.  In 2025, BaBB had 1,068 volunteer hours translating to $34,475 in community contribution ($32.28/hr.)  Krista Gross, BaBB’s Events Manager, presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Laura Matson who has helped at so many of our events.

Next up was the Tree Committee’s presentation of the Heritage Tree Award.  The committee members walk around Boyertown locating a specimen tree for the award.  Criteria include:

•      Tree is maintained and in good health

•      Tree is a mature size for the species

•      Tree has good aesthetic appeal

•      Tree is of a rare species or a specimen tree

•      Tree adds to a property’s visual value

This year’s winner is a Northern Red Oak located at 144 Schaeffer Street.  This medium-to-large tree is known for its brilliant fall color and value to wildlife. It offers a large amount of shade due to a dense crown, and it tolerates pollution and compacted soil.

Ellen went on to highlight three public improvement projects for the Boyertown community that BaBB is working on.  The Volunteer Fountain, located at the entrance to the Colebrookdale Railroad is under construction.  This Victorian fountain will be a beautiful place for community members to gather, relax to the soothing sounds of the water and take some great family photos!  The fountain will be dedicated to all volunteers of Boyertown, past, present and future.

The second project is the Marianne Deery Community Gateway park located between the Town Center East parking lot and East Philadelphia Avenue.  While there is a design in place, grant applications remain competitive and we are still working towards gathering funding for construction which has taken longer than expected.  The approximate cost of construction will be $165,000.  This pocket-park will create much-needed green space and a gathering place in downtown Boyertown. Because two major state highways run through the borough’s center, Boyertown does not have space for a traditional town square. This project will provide a place where residents and visitors can gather, relax, and connect while strengthening the link between parking areas and the downtown business district. The addition of trees and landscaping will also introduce more greenery to the downtown area, helping reduce the urban heat island effect and improving the overall streetscape environment.  This project will be dedicated to Boyertown’s former member and founder of Building a Better Boyertown, Marianne Deery, honoring her years of service to our community.

The third project is the Iron Valley Trail and Nature Preserve.  The Iron Valley Trail (IVT) is a proposed network of trails that will connect Boyertown to the Schuylkill River Trail. This regional trail initiative will expand recreational access, promote outdoor activity, and strengthen connections between communities in Berks County.

The 7.39 acres of land will serve as the location for Phase 1 of the Iron Valley Trail in Boyertown. The property will be transformed into a nature preserve known as the Iron Valley Nature Preserve that will include ADA complaint trails, parking area, picnic area, and restrooms.  The nature preserve will eventually have a connecting spur trail to the larger trail network.  This preserve will serve as trailhead parking.  Future plans for the preserve include educational programming and community events that will engage residents and visitors.

The next critical step in the Iron Valley Nature Preserve is completing a professional engineering site survey of the property. The survey will provide essential information regarding the land’s boundaries, topography, wetlands field survey and other environmental conditions. This data is required before site planning, design, permitting, and construction can proceed.   Building a Better Boyertown is actively applying for grant funding to support each phase of this project.

Ellen introduced the audience to the plans for Building a Better Boyertown’s strategic vision for the coming years.

Strategy #1
Cultivate a thriving Main Street district that is a vibrant hub of activity.

GOALS:

•      Creating a sense of community among downtown businesses and increasing collaboration

•      Key connector to business support resources

•      Recruit a retail mix that attracts community members & visitors

Strategy #2
Develop Boyertown’s Main Street district as a highly visited tourist destination.

GOALS:

•      Establish & implement a partnership strategy with local destination marketing organizations

•      Develop & market tourism package offerings

Strategy #3
Develop a community centered approach to Building a Better Boyertown.

GOAL:

•      Develop & implement a community engagement strategy that increases collaboration with the Boyertown Area School District, Boyertown residents and local government officials

Ellen gave all the attendees a Lego piece and asked them to hold it up in the air.  She said “you are all builders of Boyertown no matter whether you help us or another organization in town!  Thank you for joining us this evening.”  The evening ended with food and refreshments for the attendees.