Lehighton’s Upper Park is about to receive a makeover.

Workers from Pro Max Fence Systems in Reading began to install temporary fencing around the Upper Park Tuesday morning as part of a renovation project.

In conjunction with the project, the borough is offering the painted benches that once graced the park back to those who sponsored them, according to Autumn Abelovsky, secretary of the borough’s Parks & Recreation Board.

“The borough of Lehighton recognizes that the current painted benches and benches with plaques were sponsored by residents, organizations and businesses and would like to offer the benches back to the sponsors,” Abelovsky said.

“In addition, replacement pavers in the newly renovated amphitheater will be available to those interested in continuing the honor or memory that the benches represented.”

Abelovsky said those who were a sponsor of a bench in the Lehighton Park Amphitheater may contact her at 610-730-0041 by July 22 to make arrangements to collect the bench and/or continue the sponsorship through a paver.

The Upper Park project, Abelovsky said, “will mirror the Lower Park project that was completed in 2016.”

“The current park benches, which depict scenes of musical history, will be replaced with more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing seating that will be easier for patrons of the amphitheater to get in and out of,” she said. “Upgraded electric, new light posts and paved walkways will be met with newly poured concrete for the amphitheater seating area.”

On a 5-0 vote at a special meeting last month, borough council agreed to award a contract in the amount of $468,500 to Kobalt Construction Inc., which was also the project coordinator for the borough’s refurbished downtown park.

The borough received funding in the amount of $350,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for improvements to the park, which is used for concerts, movies and other community events.

That includes $150,000 that was received from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for improvements to the Upper Park Amphitheater, as well as $200,000 from the Multimodal Transportation Funds for streetscape and pedestrian improvements to the streets around the upper park.

In December, council announced it planned to get new benches for the Upper Park through a capital campaign project.

At that time, Abelovsky said the number one complaint she received was that people were uncomfortable sitting on the benches that were in the amphitheater.

Abelovsky said the amphitheater is used by a lot of groups for concerts, movies and other community events.

She said the cost for a new bench would be about $1,000 each, or a total of $40,000.

Abelovsky said they have received a matching donation of $20,000, meaning they would only need to raise $20,000.

The board is accepting donations from $10 to $1,000 or more to the park bench capital campaign.

Abelovsky said that if a donation will cover the cost of the entire project, plaques would be considered.