Windfall revenue from natural gas drilling, or fracking, in regions of Pennsylvania far from Salisbury Township could aid the planning for improvements to a popular east side park.

Salisbury Township officials are applying for a grant to fund a master plan for Laubach Park, an east side destination for many sporting events, including those of the Salisbury Youth Association.

The grant could result in a master plan, similar to a plan completed for Lindberg Park on the township's west side.

Township commissioners voted 5-0 at the July 25 meeting to authorize Township Manager Randy Soriano to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for a $48,000 grant from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.

Soriano said a master plan for Laubach, as with Lindberg, could include crosswalks and other "traffic-calming" features. Laubach area residents have petitioned commissioners for stepped-up Lehigh Avenue traffic enforcement.

The Lindberg master plan, which included a consultant, steering committee of township officials and residents and public hearings, took about two years to complete. Parts of the Phase One and Phase Two master plan, including a Lindberg Park perimeter walking-bicycle trail and improved baseball field facilities, have been completed or are underway.

The master plan might also look at "possibly connecting [Laubach] to Walking Purchase Park and Franko Farm Park," Soriano told commissioners.

Soriano said the township parks could also connect to the south Bethlehem Greenway. Soriano said Bethlehem officials are also applying for a DCED grant.

"They'd like to connect with Walking Purchase Park," Soriano said of Bethlehem officials.

"We did request a letter of support from Bethlehem," Soriano said of the township DCED application.

"Hopefully, whoever reviews this [Salisbury's grant application] will look favorably at both projects," Soriano said.

"One of the key ingredients [in the DCED grant] is that you have to show a substantial positive impact in the region," Soriano said. These might include increased home and real estate values, boosting tourism and healthy lifestyle benefits.

Said Commissioner Debra Brinton to Soriano of the grant application prior to the board vote, "I think it's great. I think you should do it."

Brinton moved to bring the grant application resolution to a vote, seconded by board Vice President Robert Martucci Jr.

According to the DCED website, the state legislature's Act 13 of 2012 established the Marcellus Legacy Fund to allocate funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.

Approximately 1,500 municipalities and each county could share in an estimated $204 million resulting from well drilling impact fees paid by shale gas drillers in the state's Marcellus Shale region.

Drillers pay a $50,000 fee on each of 4,022 horizontal shale wells. There are 311 vertical wells assessed at $10,000 each. The process is known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett backed the per-well fee instead of a gas production drilling tax.

The DCED application deadline is July 31 for consideration at the Nov. 13 CFA board meeting.

Grants are awarded to eligible applicants for projects that do not exceed $250,000. Most projects require a 50 percent local match of the total project cost. The match may be cash or non-cash.

Soriano noted there is a $100 grant application fee.

"This is the first grant that I've known that you have to pay an application fee," Soriano said.

"If we can get the $48,000 for $100, go for it," Brinton said.

"They're giving away millions, but they want a $100 fee," Soriano said, shaking his head.