The costs to make improvements to Palmerton’s acclaimed bandstand will be covered thanks to the generosity of a local foundation.

That will help speed up the process, according to Joe Federanich, on behalf of the Palmerton Chamber of Commerce, as well as several other organizations in the borough.

“As originally stated because of the cost, it would have to be a two-year project,” Federanich said. “Numerous local organizations that will be donating to this project were unable to donate at this (time) as they had not had the opportunity to raise funds last year due the pandemic.”

However, Federanich said the Donald and Mary Behler Foundation stepped in with all of the funding for the construction costs of the project.

“This extremely generous contribution will allow this project to move forward and be completed by the time that the summer concert begins,” he said. “Other donations will be added to additional expenses (such as cameras).”

This isn’t the first time the foundation has provided assistance to the borough, Federanich said.

“This foundation has contributed generously to the original Holiday Lighting for the park and Delaware Avenue, and last year to the train display on the bridge,” he said. “Numerous other organizations have been the (recipient) of their generosity.”

Judy Bollinger said her parents, Mary and Don Behler, started the foundation to benefit nonprofit organizations.

“They were extremely dedicated to the community they lived and worked in,” Bollinger said. “My goal is to continue to benefit the organizations and programs they were committed to.”

Bollinger added, “We’re glad to do a project like this so we can take on a bigger project that’s really difficult to do.”

Palmerton Borough Council on a 5-1 vote last month approved the sanding, painting and metal railing of the bandstand.

Federanich said all the work would be done before the Concerts in the Park begin.

Federanich said they are looking for a camera to be installed inside the bandstand.

In March, council granted permission for Phase One of the bandstand improvements project.

The work consists of all electrical interior lighting to be replaced with new fixtures to accommodate LED lighting; the exterior lighting to be changed to LED with the current fixtures; all outlets to be changed to GFI outlets; and four microphone jacks to be installed in the ceiling to allow for microphones to be dropped to improve the sound from various sections of the bands.

Palmerton Band director Joseph Plechavy will oversee and pay for the sound improvements.

Federanich said that the floor would be repaired and sanded. It will be kept natural color with coatings for protection. The white surfaces will be repainted, except the wooden railing, which would be removed, with a new steel railing to be installed that is designed to meet with code that would be powder coated to prevent rusting.

Drawings have been forwarded to borough zoning officer Duane Dellecker for approval.

They would like to remove the wooden railing and pour a concrete step to replace the broken step at the entrance to the bandstand.

Federanich said that it’s been over 30 years since any improvements have been made to the bandstand.

Everything will be funneled through the chamber, but the Palmerton Concourse Club, Palmerton Community Festival and Christmas in the Park organizations are the primary parties involved.

Federanich said they initially anticipated that the entire project would cost about $15,000, but that the likelihood is it will cost about $25,000.