Funding for the final phases of the Lindberg Park improvement project may be included in the 2018 Salisbury Township budget.

The work, if approved and underway, could affect the 2018 summer playground program at Lindberg Park.

Commissioners were briefed on the final Lindberg project phases by Leonard J. Policelli, project manager, and Joanne H. Conley, landscape architect, both of Urban Research and Development Corp., Bethlehem, consultant for the Lindberg Park Master Plan, Oct. 12.

“You guys should be commended for approving the whole plan and seeing it through,” Policelli said to township officials during the nearly one-hour PowerPoint presentation and discussion at the Oct. 12 meeting workshop.

Phase Three is to cost $515,000. Of that, $277,000 would be provided by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Phase Four is to cost $550,000. Of that, $370,000 would be provided by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development.

Commissioners must approve the township share of the project.

“It will be discussed in budget talks to see if that’s what they [township commissioners] want to do,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press after the Oct. 12 meeting.

Public deliberations on the budget are expected to get underway soon during workshop and township meetings. The township board of commissioners next meets 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

Lindberg Park project construction could affect the township recreation commission 2018 summer program, as well as pavilion rental use.

“It depends if everything goes as planned. It’s a wait-and-see,” Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie told a reporter for The Press after the meeting.

Baille expects to make a decision in spring 2018 on Lindberg Park summer recreation program use. Devonshire Park and Green Acres Park are alternative sites.

Urban Research and Development Corp. is consultant for the William H. Laubach and Franko Farm Master Plan.

Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press after the meeting the Laubach and Franko Farm Project is expected to get underway upon conclusion of the Lindberg project.

“We’re making plans based on the hydrology study,” Bonaskiewich said of improvements to Laubach Park.

Lindberg Phases Three and Four are being combined.

“We didn’t do any of the work this year,” Bonaskiewich told commissioners prior to the Urban Research presentation. “We thought we’d do those phases next year. This is something that’s going to be included in the 2018 budget.”

Phase Three includes a new pavilion in Lindberg. There will be Americans With Disabilities-compliant bathrooms. The pavilion and restrooms do not now meet ADA requirements. Alloy5 LLC Architecture designed a new pavilion.

Phase Four includes improvements to the parking lot, with a drop-off area, as well as a new playground, splash pad, pickle ball courts and serenity garden.

“Pickle ball was the second most requested after the pathways,” Policelli said, referring to township surveys and residents’ input for the project.

“The playground does not now meet ADA criteria,” Policelli said. There will be direct access to the new playground, rather than having to walk through or near the pavilion.

Safety is of paramount concern regarding the parking lot.

“We were looking for ways to improve dropping off youths for sports,” Policelli said. “This will give some order to the parking lot. You won’t be dropping off kids and have them run across the parking lot.”

Phases Three and Four will be submitted for approval to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit must be approved for the phases.

The timeline for Phases Three and Four is:

December through January 2018 - Review by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

February 2018 through March 2018 - Request for proposals and bids-awarding

May 2018 through June 2018 - Construction start

November 2018 through December 2018 - Project completion

Policelli said planning for the Lindberg project began in 2010, with meetings with former Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano.

With work planned to start next year and expected to be completed by or in 2019, the project is keeping to its timeline and 2020 completion target year.

“That’s phenomenal,” Policell said.

The Lindberg Park project was to cost an estimated $3 million over 10 years. Work on the Lindberg Park Master Plan began in 2011, based on the township Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Public hearings on the Lindberg Park Master Plan were held during 2012.

The Lindberg Park Master Plan had 12 phases.