Salisbury residents can get a first look at master plans for William H. Laubach Park and Franko Farm Recreation Area 6:30 p.m. April 18 in the Salisbury Township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

Announcement of the meeting was made at the March 24 township meeting. Posters have been placed at the municipal building. Information was posted March 24 on the redesigned township website where flyers for the meeting can be downloaded at salisburytownshippa.org.

Salisbury, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, plans to revitalize, renovate and complete facilities at Laubach Park and Franko Farm.

The public is invited to review and comment on the plans for Laubach Park and Franko Farm.

Among stated goals for the plan are to:

Provide for the preservation and enhancement of the natural ecosystems at the parks;

Provide for the needs of youth sports at Laubach and Franko Farm;

Provide recreation facilities for all ages and abilities at both parks, and

Provide for sustainable stormwater and forest management systems.

The master plan committee has been meeting regularly to determine the thrust of the plan and present details to the public.

Aspects of the Lindberg Park Master Plan, where Phase III is about to begin, were altered during the public hearing phase.

The master plans are part of the township’s multi-park upgrades.

Franko Farm Park was added to the Laubach Master Plan when it became apparent low-lying areas of the 14.25-acre Laubach Park might be unsuitable for upgrading to accommodate improved and additional playing fields for Salisbury Youth Association sports programs.

Use of and possible improvements to Dodson Street Fields, adjacent to Fountain Hill, have been discussed.

The Laubach Park Master Plan consultant is Leonard J. Policelli of Urban Research & Development Corp., Bethlehem.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources approved a $26,700 Community Conservation Partnership Program Grant for the Laubach Park Master Plan and Recreation Connections Project. The grant is matched with an equal amount from the township for the $55,400 project, which is the cost of the master plan. An estimate for park improvements is to be determined.

Laubach Park, which gets a lot of use by SYA football and boys and girls softball teams, has several sports playing fields, a basketball court, an old pavilion, bathrooms not compliant with Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, a wooden footbridge with missing boards, shuffleboard courts and a pond.

Meanwhile, work continues on the PPL Electric Utilities transmission line rebuilding project, a portion of which affects Laubach Park where trees have been cleared and an old tower has been dismantled. Single-shaft steel poles about 95-feet-tall are replacing existing poles and several lattice-style towers.

The Elliot Heights Project is to be completed in June. It ties into the Hosensack-Seidersville Transmission Line Project.

The first .6 miles of the Elliott Heights Project uses an inactive power line right-of-way through Laubach Park.

PPL officials addressed the Sept. 21, 2015, Laubach Park Master Plan Committee meeting and met last summer with Salisbury Township officials concerning the Elliott Heights Project.

Salisbury Township commissioners voted 5-0 at the Aug. 27, 2015, meeting to approve a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Highway Occupancy Permit on behalf of PPL for access to Laubach from Fairview to work on the project.