A Northern Lehigh area playground association has received a healthy jolt to help improve its facility.

The Emerald Playground Association was the recipient of a $7,800 grant from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Chad Christman, president of the Emerald Playground Association, said they will be able to make improvements to its dugouts and batting cage on both fields at 7700 Penn St., Emerald.

“A couple months ago we were doing research on how to get funding for multiple projects that we got going on at the ball fields,” Christman said. “The biggest ball field contributor here in the Lehigh Valley is the IronPigs.”

Christman said the grant is specifically for improving the dugouts and batting cages, and any other safety concerns.

“It was awesome; up here in good old Emerald, you don’t expect to be on many people’s radar,” he said. “So, to get approval for something like that is always exciting.”

Christman said the organization is still working on a light project. They will likely do an additional fundraiser or two once the spring season is over.

He said the lights cost about $47,000 alone, while the poles were roughly $10,500. All the electrical contracting work is being donated by GR Electric. Grace Industries has volunteered to do installation of the poles, and fabrication of the brackets was partially donated by Snyder Welding, Christman said.

“We realize we bit off a lot; I don’t think it’s more than we can chew, but having a little assistance along the way is going to free things up so we can do the improvements,” Christman said. “We’re doing it for the kids.”

Christman said it’s a public park, and added it’s all about making things better for the youth in the community.

“Reinvest, give these kids somewhere to be proud to be playing, give them a facility to be able to do what they need to do, and just be proud of where they come from,” he said. It’s an Emerald facility, (but) Northern Lehigh youth groups will all benefit; we share among the Northern Lehigh community.”

To celebrate the occasion, Christman said a youth baseball game will take place on Monday at the Emerald facility. He said the first pitch will be at 5:45 p.m., but that people may arrive by 5 p.m. to set up if needed.

Christman said there will be a check presentationbefore the game with Iron Pigs Charities Manager Matt Sommers.

“We will have at least one game,” he said. “I invited all the teams that play at Emerald to come out and be there, if nothing else, for the presentation.”

Anyone with questions should email emeraldpga@gmail.com, or call Christman at 610-573-9697.