Nearly a decade after a master plan was completed, grants will be sought to move forward with the William H. Laubach Park Development Plan.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners received an update on the project during the workshop after the March 14 township meeting.

There is no firm estimate for the cost of the project, but township officials indicate it would probably be upward of $1.5 million.

The timetable for the project is seen as: 2024, planning; 2025, request for bids, 2026, close park for work, 2027, reopen improved park.

“We worked with the plan to come up with a slightly revised plan for Laubach Park,” Stan Wojcienchowski, department head, Municipal Engineering Services, Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., said. Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. is the consulting engineer firm for Salisbury Township.

Wojcienchowski made the presentation during the workshop of the March 14 township meeting, which included discussion of the Laubach project with no action taken by commissioners.

Changes to the plan include no angle parking along Lehigh Avenue. Instead, parallel parking will remain in effect along Lehigh Avenue.

To compensate for this, the plan proposes a roadway and parking areas in Laubach Park.

The plan still includes a half-mile perimeter pathway, pavilion, restrooms, inclusive playground and relocation of basketball courts and football field.

Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said township officials will apply for grants to offset costs of Laubach improvements. Most of the grants require a local municipality matching amount of 50 percent.

“My biggest concern is that there’ are only two pickleball courts,” Commissioner Alex Karol said.

“We need at least four [pickleball courts],” Salisbury Township Recreation Director Genny Baillie said.

Salisbury Township Director, Public Works, Jim Levernier said that, with the loss of a softball baseball field at Laubach, ”We’ll still have eight softball baseball fields [in the township].”

“We’re trying to make this park into a community park, not ball fields only,” Baillie said.

Wojcienchowski said the Laubach Park plan can be honed in 2024 with input from commissioners and township officials.

“I think doing this with Laubach is utilizing the space in a much better way,” board of commissioners President Debra Brinton said.

Laubach Park is in eastern Salisbury, south of East Susquehanna Street and Lehigh Mountain and north of East Emmaus Avenue and South Mountain.

Lehigh Avenue is along the north boundary, Fairview Avenue is along the west boundary and private residences are along the south and east boundaries of Laubach.

The Lehigh Avenue Stormwater Improvements Project, estimated to cost approximately $680,000, was completed in August 2023.

The project was seen as necessary before the fulfillment of the Laubach Park and Franko Farm Park Master Plan.

Stormwater runoff impacted portions of Laubach, including sports playing fields used by the Salisbury Youth Association.

The 115-page master plan was unveiled at the April 18, 2016, township meeting. At that meeting, residents who lived in the vicinity of Laubach Park complained about stormwater runoff.

The $55,400 master plan was accepted by a unanimous vote by commissioners for the 14.25-acre Laubach Park and 93.72-acre Franko Farm Park, Black River Road.

At the time of the master plan, improvements at the two parks were estimated to cost $5 million.

A hydrology study was done for Laubach Park before the stormwater project.

Improvements to Franko Park are to be considered after the Laubach Park project is completed, according to township officials.

Planning on the Lindberg Park Master Plan began in 2011. The estimated $3-million project was completed in 2020.

Upcoming township meetings include 7 p.m. March 27, planning commission and 7 p.m. March 28, board of commissioners, each in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.