Lehighton intends to alter its plans for the Baer Memorial grant project to include a soccer field.

Bryan Smith of Barry Isett & Associates appeared before borough council last week to discuss improvements.

The plan include removing the baseball diamond at Baer Memorial would be removed, while basketball courts and bleachers would be installed, and a multipurpose field and walking trail constructed within the park. There would also be handicap accessibility and parking.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky questioned if the area would be big enough for a lined soccer field and if the plan could be altered.

Abelovsky said the youth soccer program is growing and was interested to see “if a soccer field could somehow be worked in.”

It was agreed that a new sketch be drawn up for Baer Memorial to include a lined soccer field, in place of a proposed multipurpose field.

Abelovsky asked what the reasoning was behind the proposed plan to put additional basketball courts at Baer Memorial.

Borough secretary Brenda Kreitz said the basketball courts were to replace the one at the Grove and to provide an opportunity for summer leagues and camps, along with free court time for general use to make the Grove a family-oriented park with a possible smaller court for younger children to use.

The total cost of the project is $400,000. The borough was awarded a $200,000 grant from DCNR as part of the Community Conservation Partnership Program.

Kreitz said in January that the borough had spent $17,480 on Baer Memorial for engineering and design toward the project.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said at that time her concern is that the borough already has two executed Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant contracts that council approved last year for the Grove Master Site Plan & Recreation Center Feasibility Study, and Baer Memorial Park Improvements.

Councilman Joe Flickinger previously said he would rather see those funds go toward the borough’s infrastructure, such as redoing Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

Grove site plan

Council also agreed to table action to advertise for proposals for the Grove site plan and feasibility study.

“I just don’t think it’s something that needs to be prioritized at this time in our borough,” Abelovsky said.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said in January he believes the borough needs to move forward with the feasibility study for the grove.

In April, council on a 5-2 vote, with Flickinger and former Councilwoman Helen Torok opposed, agreed to forge ahead with a master site development plan and recreation center feasibility study for the grove.

Beckett previously said the study was to prepare a master site development plan for the grove, and that it was through a grant.

The grant expires Dec. 31, 2019.

The borough was previously awarded a grant for $40,000 from DCNR as a Community Conservation Partnership Program to be used to have a study done on how to improve the grove, and to see if an additional recreation center would be built in the lower field near the existing recreation center. However, the borough is also responsible for coming up with a $40,000 match.

Beckett previously said the master site plan will analyze the facilities, activities, maintenance and operations, as well as lead to the completion of site development drawings for the redevelopment of the grove.

Last year Council approved DCNR’s grant contract for rehabilitation and further development of the park.

Currently the Lehighton Recreation Community Center serves borough youth.

The new gym would either be in addition to the recreation center, or located below the existing building or added on to the existing building.