A proposed multiuse park along Railroad Street near the post office in Bowmanstown appears to have gained more steam.

Rodney Reeser, vice president of Bowmanstown Area Residents Connected, told borough council on Tuesday that BARC would like to use the borough’s letterhead to get a RecTap grant to get a site plan to form a park.

Reeser said that once that takes place, the group can present a professional site plan to council.

“A lot of the older people in town said they would like a place to go,” Reeser said.

Councilman Darren Thomas asked Reeser why the group specifically wants the property near the post office as the site.

“We’re a tiny little community,” said Thomas, who added that would make for three parks. “Once it’s there, it’s the borough’s responsibility to maintain that.”

Reeser said one of the reasons why BARC likes the Railroad Street site is because the borough is a D & L trail town.

Resident Norman Engle Jr. said he supported the concept pitched by BARC.

“I sort of side with BARC,” Engle said. “I think it’s a great idea.”

Additionally, Engle said he believes it will probably solve some of the parking problems for the borough.

“Please help them out,” Engle implored council. “Give them a shot.”

Borough solicitor Lisa Pereira said that council couldn’t amend its meeting agenda to vote on the matter.

Further, Pereira said the matter would have to be listed on the meeting agenda in the event there would be any expenditure associated with it.

Reeser reiterated “All we want to do is get a site plan so we can get it to the borough.”

Council President Pam Leiby said council would likely incorporate the matter on next week’s special meeting agenda.

After the meeting, Reeser said the park would include a walking path around the park, a small pavilion, picnic tables, benches, and shrubberies, among other features.

Last month, resident Christine Bottcher, a member of BARC, said the group wishes to use the borough’s letterhead so that it may apply for a grant.

Councilman William Ravert told Bottcher at that time that the borough needed something to look at before it could approve a letterhead.

Councilman Rob Moyer asked at that time if BARC could provide council with some objectives, or goals they have for Railroad Street.

Leiby suggested at that time that BARC bring council something it could look at in writing.

In April, resident Sharon Krebs, a member of BARC, pitched the idea to council about creating a multiuse park along Railroad Street near the post office.

Councilwoman Kara Scott, who also serves as president of BARC, said at that time the group applied for a RecTap grant, which would cover the cost of the survey and concept plan, but didn’t receive the grant.

Scott said she followed up this year and was told the grant needed to come from the municipality, because the borough is the landholder.

She said the grant is administered through the Pennsylvania Parks and Recreation Society.

Ravert said at that time that if council were to approve the concept, the borough would need a location to dump its snow.

The land is just shy of 2 acres, and is a grassy field with no purpose that has been used to dump refuge. She said the borough cannot sell the land.

Scott added that the grant would cover the majority of the cost, and that BARC would be responsible if there is an overage.