More than one-half-million dollars of work has been approved for the final phases of improvements to Lindberg Park.

A general contracting bid of $584,184.40 was awarded to Kobalt Construction, Inc., Pocono Summit, Monroe County, by a unanimous 5-0 vote by the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners at the May 24 meeting. Commissioner James Seagreaves made the motion for the vote, seconded by Commissioner Joanne Ackerman.

The contract was awarded based on a proposal for the Lindberg Park Final Restoration Project, Phases 3 and 4.

According to the Salisbury Township website invitation to bid, the project “involves, but is not limited to: demolition of an exterior pavilion; installation of a new pavilion and restroom; utility work, including electric, water and sanitary; installation of accessible pathways in pervious and bituminous materials; parking lot improvements to include stamped bituminous, signs, solar bollards and curb; a fenced pickleball court and site grading and planting.”

The bid specifications note that coordination with certified installers and PPL is required. Bids were opened April 25.

After the May 24 township commissioners’ meeting, Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press the work at Lindberg Park is expected to take 180 days, or six months. Work on the project was to have begun June 1.

The work at Lindberg Park required separate contracts for the Phase 3 General & Architectural Contract, electrical contract and plumbing contract and Phase 4 General Contract.

Township commissioners had previously voted 5-0 at the May 10 meeting to approve Kobalt’s bid, with the motion made by Ackerman and seconded by Seagreaves.

“This is just a cleanup to make it whole,” Bonaskiewich said to commissioners of the need to vote again at the May 24 meeting on the general contract.

Len Policelli, project manager, Urban Research and Development Corp., Bethlehem, consultant for the Lindberg Park Master Plan and the William H. Laubach Park and Franko Farm Master Plan, attended the May 10 commissioners’ meeting. Policelli said Kobalt was the lowest responsible bidder.

Also, at the May 10 meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a lowest responsible bid of $76,028 for the plumbing portion of the Lindberg Park project, which was awarded to John G. Membrino Construction, Hereford, Berks County.

At the May 10 meeting, Policelli said no bids were received for the electrical portion of the work. He said Phase 4 of the project would begin first to allow for time to receive estimates for the electrical work. “That doesn’t need electricity,” Policelli said of Phase 4.

Phase 4 includes improvements to the parking lot, with a drop-off area and pickleball courts.

Phase 3 includes the new pavilion.

“We are exploring a number of options, including phone solicitations,” Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley said at the May 10 meeting regarding the electrical bidding and work for the Lindberg Park project.

Phases 3 and 4 have been submitted for approval to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit must be approved for the phases.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reviewed the plan December 2017 to January.

Commissioners voted 5-0 at the April 28, 2016, meeting to approve a bid of $17,500 by Alloy5 LLC Architecture, Bethlehem, to design the new pavilion in Lindberg, which will include an Americans With Disabilities Act compliant bathroom. The pavilion in use does not meet ADA requirements.

Policelli presented a nearly one-hour Power Point presentation and discussion at the Oct. 12, 2017, commissioners’ meeting workshop concerning the Lindberg Park project final phases.

“Pickleball was the second most requested after the pathways,” Policelli said during the presentation, referring to township surveys and residents’ input for the Lindberg Park project.

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.”

Planning for the Lindberg Park project began in 2010 at meetings with former Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano.

With work expected to be completed by 2019, the project has kept to its timeline of completion by 2020.

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.