Another half million dollars in grant funds are expected to be received in Bellevue this year, funding projects as diverse as public safety, recreation and economic development.

Anticipating the pending arrival of the borough’s new aerial firetruck, purchased in large part with $600,000 in FEMA funds, Fire Chief Glenn Pritchard told Bellevue Council Tuesday that the fire company also has received a $300,000 FEMA grant to purchase a new fire engine.

The new truck will replace Bellevue’s 1989 pumper, the chief said.

And that was only the start of the good news.

Council president Kathy Coder reported that Bellevue has been awarded $134,000 to fund the first phase of a skate plaza in Bayne Park.

According to director of administrative services Doug Sample, the money will go toward construction of a third of the plaza, ADA accessibility and expanded parking.

The borough will apply for Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) and private funding to cover the next two phases of the proposed plaza, including bathrooms and lighting. Each phase will be able to operate independently, Sample said.

The borough also has received a CDBG of $50,000 to fund a “streetscape” study of Lincoln Avenue. Sample said the plans, which will propose improvements in the business district, are necessary before any money can be sought for actual construction.

Finally, Bellevue obtained a couple thousand dollars from Allegheny County, Sample said, to help pay for a community garden that will be planted on Davis Avenue. Food grown in the garden will be donated to the North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry, he said.

Coder credited new assistant DAS Katie Hale with doing the work to obtain the grants.