RUMFORD – Physical fitness, downtown revitalization and future plans for a Moontide Water Festival are among the things going on in the area. On Tuesday, many activities were updated at the regular meeting of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

Town Manager Steve Eldridge told the 20 or so people at Tuesday’s meeting that plans are under way for a downtown revitalization project. It includes new street lights, spiffed up storefronts, and infrastructure improvements such as new sidewalks on Congress and Waldo streets, a possible boardwalk along Canal Street with a gazebo, new sidewalks in front of Morency Park on River Street, and a new trail known as the River Walk along the Androscoggin River.

So far, thousands of dollars in grants have been received for the River Walk and storefront facade improvements. About $200,000 has also been granted that will be used to leverage additional funds for housing improvements on Waldo Street. Whether a $400,000 federal Community Development Block Grant for updating the town’s infrastructure will come through will be known in February or March.

Eldridge said the public works department plans to begin clearing trees next week for the trail. At the same time, he said the Fire Department will use the clearing opportunity for training by doing such things as rappelling near the river.

“We have a very enthusiastic group of people who want things to change. It’s the people that make it happen,” he said.

In other events:

• Carol Emery, Project NOW coordinator, said a seventh Tar Wars program is about to start in the area’s fourth-grade classes. In this project, aimed to prevent youngsters from starting to smoke, local doctors enter classrooms to present programs on tobacco usage.

• Angella Roberts, a member of the Moontide Festival Committee, announced plans to raise funds for next year’s events through a raffle of fuel oil. She said that although the town Parks Commission has agreed to take over the July Fourth fireworks display, the Moontide Committee will offer a variety of events during the festival. Volunteers are needed.

• A Fitness and Fun Fair will be held Sept. 30 at Black Mountain; also, the annual Octoberfest is scheduled for Oct. 14 at the former armory on Lincoln Avenue.