Lehighton has given the green light for upgrades to be made to a popular recreational park.

On a 6-1 vote, borough council on Monday approved a proposal for Baer Memorial Park improvements for design, permitting and construction from Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. Councilman Joe Flickinger was opposed.As part of the improvements, the baseball diamond at Baer Memorial will be removed, while basketball courts and bleachers will be installed nearby, said borough secretary Brenda Koons.Additionally, Koons said a multipurpose field will be constructed within the park, as will a walking trail. There will be handicap accessibility and parking, she said.Koons said the total cost of the project is $400,000, of which the borough was awarded a $200,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as part of the Community Conservation Partnership Program.She said a separate grant of $40,000 was awarded to the borough from DCNR as a Community Conservation Partnership Program.The borough will use that to have a study done on how to improve the community Grove, and to see if an additional recreation center would be built in the lower field near the existing recreation center, Koons said.