Walker Township has established a new Parks Commission in anticipation of a grant that has been applied for from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The grant requested is approximately $84,000 to be used for upgrades to the equipment and facilities at Wildcat Park and Pavilion.

The township supervisors made a motion to approve resolutions 16, 17 and 18, and appointed Ron Farrell, Natalie Hartwell and Sue Heisler to the new committee. The term of service will be a four-year term.

“One of the big things was that if they’re going to give us this money, they want to make sure that the investment is there with a committee on site to keep everything up and running,” Supervisors’ Chairman Craig Wagner said.

“We had joined the Eastern Schuylkill Recreational Committee, and that was Tamaqua and pretty much all the surrounding townships that went to the Tamaqua school district, “ Wagner said. “(The fee) is per capita, so I think our annual contribution right around $900. We’ve been a member for 10 to 15 years. Every year, someone gets appointment to get the grant. We had one before, and that’s how we got the basketball and tennis courts. Now it’s our turn coming around again.”

It was noted by several of the supervisors that people use the park a lot; kids use the basketball court almost every evening. Families come in and use the park.

“Even during the day, people come in to use the tennis courts; there really aren’t many tennis courts around anymore,” township Secretary Ann Ostergaard said.

The supervisors suggested that the committee will be an advisory board; they will meet separately to determine what the park would need as far as equipment or repairs or upgrades, and then present their recommendations to the supervisors.