Mill Creek Park - After years of sewage flowing into Mill Creek Park, killing fish and leading to high bacteria levels, the city of Youngstown may finally have found a way to fix the problem for good.

Youngstown city council, agreed to spend $4.8 million of ARP funds to start designing an updated sewer system that will prevent the waters in the park from becoming contaminated with sewage.

"It will remove the overflows in Mill Creek park, specifically in Lake Glacier, Lake Cohasset and a very small part in [Lake] Newport," Chuck Shasho, Youngstown public works director said. 

In past years, the city had been unsuccessful in financing the project. Now, it is contracted with Youngstown engineering firm, ms consultants, inc. to construct a new system that will divert wastewater flow away from the parks water channels.

Officials say they are expecting construction to last for roughly four years and will begin in 2026. 

"It's going to be built in four phases. This contract is for the design of phases one and two, [and] the preliminary design of phases one, two, three, and four," Shasho said.

For years, the sewer system at Mill Creek Park had been overflowing and contaminating the water which caused park officials to prohibit recreational activity on the lakes. 

So what is the root of this problem? An expert says it is mainly rain.

"Anytime you had a heavy rain event or significant rain event, within 24 to 48 hours you [would] find elevated E.coli levels within those stream systems," Ryan Tekac, Mahoning County Public Health commissioner told 21 news. 

The rain is inevitable, but officials hope this project will reduce its harmful effects on the lakes.