Northampton Borough Community Planner Victor Rodite is drawing up revised plans for the proposed uptown minipark.

The plans include a wall mural, decorative metal post, a retaining wall and a change to the grading of the lot, which served this summer as home for the farmers market.

Rodite said he was "pleasantly surprised" when he returned to the borough after being out of town and learned council had submitted a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) for a share of grant money from Monroe County's casino revenues.

"Since my return, I have rolled up my sleeves and have refined the preliminary uptown park plan to submit it to the PA-DCED," Rodite said.

He said he supports borough Manager Gene Zarayko's idea of a wall mural. It will become a reality if the borough and property owners can agree on a design.

The small retaining wall would be built at the rear of the park to alleviate a steep grade. Rodite said the present 5-foot difference in elevation from the front to the rear on the tract could be reduced to a 2.5-foot difference, which is gentle enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.

"I propose a decorative metal post, similar to our sidewalk posts, only slightly bigger, to be erected at the park entrance and extend a mast arm over at least one traffic lane of Main Street," Rodite said.

The mast arm would hold permanent signs facing north and south and featuring the park's name.

"Then, when there's a community event, the public works department will be able to hang a banner sign from the mast arm announcing the event," he said.

Rodite also proposed the construction of a partial enclosure for the performance area to be situated in the rear corner of the park.

"The structure will primarily serve for storage and will have water and electric for any demonstration or amplifying equipment required for a small group to perform," Rodite said.