radioNOVO News for Altoona: May 27, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 05/27/26

          THE ALTOONA PARKING AUTHORITY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TUESDAY TO TERMINATE ITS CONTRACT WITH PARKING MANAGEMENT FIRM METROPOLIS, INVOKING A THIRTY-DAY TERMINATION CLAUSE. CITY MANAGER CHRISTOPHER MCGUIRE CITED A PATTERN OF ONGOING ISSUES, INCLUDING SEVERE LACK OF SIGNAGE, A JANITOR WRONGFULLY TICKETED THREE TIMES, AND A FAILURE TO PROVIDE COST-EFFECTIVE PARKING METERS. THE CITY PLANS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE CORPORATE FIRM BY HIRING A DEDICATED, IN-HOUSE DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGER........... WHICH THE CITY’S HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY BEGUN WORKING TO FILL BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.  

          THE BLAIR COUNTY DOG PARK ASSOCIATION IS LAUNCHING A MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO RAISE 30,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE DETERIORATING FENCING AT ITS 10-ACRE MARTINSBURG SITE. ORGANIZERS SAY AGING POSTS AND STRUCTURAL GAPS HAVE CREATED SAFETY ISSUES AT THE MEMBER-FUNDED PARK. TO FUND THE PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION, THE NONPROFIT IS SEEKING TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS ALONGSIDE FIVE-YEAR FENCE SPONSORSHIPS STARTING AT 100 DOLLARS, HELPING TO SECURE THE PARK'S FUTURE WITHOUT ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING.