New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day is looking ahead to long-anticipated projects getting finished in the new year.
Among them, a new Chick-fil-A restaurant at the former Travelodge location on Bluebell Drive. Day says owner/operator Brady Rust told him it is on schedule for a spring 2026 opening.
He also recently toured the new homeless shelter – Jack’s House of Hope – on East High Avenue. That is expected to open early next year.
Day says a new inclusive playground will open at Tuscora Park in 2026. He says the Tuscora Park Foundation is still accepting donations toward that 450-thousand dollar project.
Meanwhile, the 3-million dollar, state-funded downtown quadrants redesign project is expected to be done after September of next year.
Day says city officials are working with ODOT to find a truck route to steer semis and oversized loads around the downtown square, but there is only so much they can do.
Day adds he is working on his State of the City Report to highlight New Philadelphia’s accomplishments in 2025.
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