The Borough of Northampton is pursuing grants to fund the design of a small uptown park on Main Street.

The park, which the borough contends will be a boost to businesses, would offer a place for the public to enjoy a passive outdoor setting, benefiting businesses already in the area including a coffee shop, restaurants, movie theater and jewelry store.

Victor Rodite, longtime community planner, is at the forefront of the project, which will convert a tract purchased with the aid of grant money.

"Today, I am proposing the hotel tax grant application and submitting it to the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development in Easton," said Rodite in a June 1 report to borough council and Borough Manager Gene Zarayko.

After talks with Zarayko and Councilman Tony Pristash, who also serves as president of the Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce, Rodite said he is scaling back the proposed project.

"We will only ask for $50,000 for a phase one project," Rodite said.

However, he is proposing the borough match the $50,000 with another $50,000 from the Northampton County Open Space Initiative Grant Program, thus giving the project $100,000. The money will be used to design and build the park on the Kroope lot, which still has not been assigned a formal name.

"We propose to create a farmers' market friendly park. Our basis for using hotel tax revenue funds is that our proposed farmers market will attract some tourists," Rodite said.

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In a separate matter, Rodite said he is going before the Northampton County Open Space Advisory Board to make a presentation on why the borough should receive a grant.

"On March 18 of this year, we submitted a grant request in the amount of $99,450.50 to fund the purchase of three major pieces of playground equipment. We are matching those funds with our bond issue funds. We have made it through the first round of review and now we have to stand before the Open Space Board and defend your request," Rodite said.

"Unfortunately, we learned that this grant opportunity was not available to the borough. It was only available to municipalities who agreed to participate in The Main Street Manager type program sponsored by the two counties and the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. We are not in that program," Rodite said.

However, Rodite said, the Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce is eligible to apply for the grant and Pristash did so on behalf of the chamber.

"Therefore, all is not lost if the local chamber succeeds with securing the grant request," Rodite said.