Grant funding from Northampton County, if approved, will be making it possible for officials to obtain new playground equipment and make other improvements at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park in the near future.

Borough council President Peter Paone asked council members to give him some suggestions on what kind of equipment they would like to see at the park.

The Northampton County 21st Century Open Space Initiative Grant application is due to be submitted for approval by Sept. 29.

Paone asked council members for their input in drafting a list of improvements needed at the borough park for which funding could be requested.

The main item on the grant application will be new playground equipment, and the question Paone asked of council members was where that equipment should be installed.

The borough recreation committee has recommended applying for funds to replace the upper playground equipment, located near the pavilion. The equipment in place there now was installed in 1993.

Alternatively, Paone said, tot lot equipment now located in the lower lot could be replaced with more toddler-friendly equipment and the current equipment moved to the upper lot.

Equipment in the lower lot must be removed, so the surface underneath it can be improved; because it will have to be removed anyway, discussion of possibly moving it to the upper lot ensued.

Councilwoman Michele Hazzard commented that the current tot lot is really more geared for slightly older children, not toddlers.

“Although we call the lower playground the tot lot, it’s really not age appropriate for what would be considered tots,” Paone said. “If you look up the equipment, it’s actually designed for kids ages 5-12, as opposed to ages 2-5. The suggestion there is rather than tear it out and put it back in place, remove it, move it to the upper lot in addition to what’s existing and place new equipment in the lower lot.

Councilmen John Yanek and Bill Nothstein said they favor replacing the equipment in the upper lot.

Paone said he would be talking to Brian Cope, open space coordinator for Northampton County, to discuss how to include matching funding from the borough and estimate labor rates for the grant.

The other needs at the park, to be listed on the grant, include repair of basketball and volleyball courts, the addition of picnic tables and storage facilities, refurbishment of the ball field and improvement of playground surface.

According to Paone’s drafted estimates, along with other improvements needed at the park, the total for upper lot replacement would be $107,000. Replacement and relocation of the lower lot equipment, along with other park improvements, would total $83,000.

At the Sept. 27 meeting, council approved a resolution allowing the borough to pursue the playground grant by a vote of 6-0. Hazzard was not present for the vote.

Council agreed to commit to $68,655.44 toward the grant, with monies not to exceed $117,000. Also, $500 will come from a private contribution source.

“Even if we get the grant, the borough will still have to put up $50,000 because it’s a matching grant,” Paone said.

Paone said the borough should receive confirmation if it is approved for the grant by Nov. 15.