A Northampton County grant coupled with funding from the Borough of Northampton will enable the borough to upgrade three playgrounds with new state-of-the art equipment, borough council disclosed at its June 20 meeting.

Councilman Robert Coleman, administration and finance committee member, said Northampton County informed the borough it will receive a matching funds grant in the amount of $99,454 for the acquisition of the equipment.

Through a bond issue approved earlier by council, the borough has set aside $118,460 for the project.

"The total cost of the equipment that was selected is $217,910," Coleman said.

Borough public works personnel will install the new equipment either during the summer or early autumn.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko said the equipment is for playgrounds at the municipal park at Laubach Avenue and Smith Lane, the 26th Street playground and Canal Street Park.

The equipment features bright colors and is made of special plastic materials.

Zarayko added one of the large items is in the form of a ship.

In other business, permission was granted by council to barricade 19th Street and Lincoln Avenue west to Ridge Alley during St. Paul's United Church of Christ's vacation Bible school.

Zarayko said the children attending the weeklong school use both the church's basement and the parish office, located on both sides of 19th Street.

Zarayko added the borough has granted St. Paul's permission to barricade one block of the street on an annual basis when the church conducts vacation Bible school.