Refurbishing Salisbury Township’s Laubach Park could cost from $6.2 million to $6.6 million.

If township officials apply for a matching grant, which could pay for half of the cost of the project, they may not know for one year or more if the grant is approved.

The Salisbury Board of Commissioners received an update during the Feb. 27 meeting workshop concerning the Laubach Park project, including a revised sketch plan, from Stan G. Wojciechowski, department head, Municipal Engineering Services, Barry Isett & Associates, Inc, the consulting engineering firm for the township.

The township adopted the nearly 100-page Master Site Development Plan for William H. Laubach Memorial Park and Franko Farm Recreation Area in January 2017. Public input was garnered, including at meetings held in 2016.

In the interim, improvements have been made at Franko and Laubach.

The township completed stormwater mitigation for the approximate 14.4-acre Laubach Park, bounded by Fairview Road to the west, Lehigh Avenue to the north, residences along Brook Avenue to the east and residences and private property to the south.

“We’ve been talking about going for the Land and Water Conservation Fund [LWCF],” Wojciechowski said at the workshop.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities. “Using zero taxpayer dollars, the fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing,” according to the U.S. Department of the Interior website.

The LWCF provided funding for Salisbury in 1972.

The Laubach project could cost $6,664,476. The township would apply for $3 million. The grant is predicated on the township providing 50% in matching funds.

During discussion at the workshop, township officials cut an estimated $450,000 from the project, reducing the total cost to about $6.2 million. The amount cut would provide for athletic field lighting in the park. Conduits, to cost about $20,000, would be installed for lights to be installed at a later date.

“If we would get a grant, could we pay for it [the township matching portion]?” township Board of Commissioners President Debra Brinton asked.

“There’s going to be some need for borrowing money,” Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said, adding, “We are not at our limit [of township borrowing].”

“We have to submit by April 2 [deadline for the grant application],” Wojciechowski said.

Township officials agreed to vote on a resolution to apply for the grant at the March 27 commissioners’ meeting.

“It will take 12 to 15 months until we know about the grant,” Wojciechowski said.

It was stated township public works department employees could do prep work for the Laubach project.

“We can’t really start until we get the grant to move forward,” Salisbury Township Director, Public Works Department, Jim Levernier said.

“We can only get reimbursed for what we purchase,” Wojciechowski said.

The $450,000 reduction in the project amount is for field lighting for Salisbury Youth Association fall soccer and football.

“We could prep for the field lighting and add later,” Levernier said, emphasizing, “The parking lot lighting is a must.”

Concerning the grant application, Wojciechowski recommended to township officials, “Put in for everything you may get,” noting, “Or they may say, ‘Phase It.’”

Phasing the project would entail making improvements to the park in portions, sections or facilities.

“You could apply for successive grants,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said.

The Laubach Park sketch plan depicts a new roadway extending from the existing parking lot on the southwest side at Fairview and proceeding north to Lehigh Avenue. Vehicle parking spots are shown along three areas of the roadway.

A walking path winds around the park perimeter.

Laubach Park Pond has a wooden boardwalk and fishing platform.

There are four pickleball courts, a basketball court, a soccer-football field, two baseball fields and new restrooms.

Salisbury Township meetings in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., include: 7 p.m. March 12, zoning hearing board; 7 p.m. March 13, board of commissioners is canceled for township manager interviews; 7 p.m. March 26, planning commission and 7 p.m. March 27, board of commissioners.