A recreational facility in Lehighton will be receiving a face-lift thanks to a sizable contribution from Behavioral Health Associates in Lehighton.

Borough council last week approved a resolution for authorization for the Lehighton Downton Initiative to improve Skyline Park along North Third Street.

Mayor Ryan Saunders, who serves as president of the Lehighton Downtown Initiative, “Typically every year we (LDI) kind of go over projects and things we would like to do, move forward. For the past several years, we had restoring Skyline Park on our back burner.”

Saunders added that one of BHA’s representatives reached out to borough Manager Dane DeWire to see if there was anyway they could get involved in helping to revitalize the community.

They connected with Councilwoman Becky Worthy, a member of LDI.

BHA favored the park because they take students to Skyline frequently on field trips.

“Gave some preliminary numbers to see what it would potentially cost to do this, they (BHA) came back to LDI with a $75,000 check to help start revitalizing Skyline Park,” Saunders said. “I reached out to local contractor to get quote on new fencing, put in pavilion, new playground equipment, and a sensory wall for special needs students in our community.”

Saunders added that LDI is putting together a steering committee comprised of members from BHA, LDI, representatives from Parks & Recreation, and DeWire “to blueprint a revitalization program of what we’d like to do there, what we want to see in there, what types of playground equipment will go in there. That committee will report back to LDI, LDI will make the ultimate decision, (and) DeWire will implement getting the project down.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with BHA on Skyline Park for all of Lehighton to enjoy,” he said. “There are people who go there, but there isn’t much to do there.”

As a result, Saunders said, “We’ve kind of left it go as far as recreation is concerned. The stars aligned, and we have an opportunity to do something really great.

Plans call for new landscaping, new swing sets, and a pavilion.

“We’d like to model the fencing and pavilion like the one that was restored at Sixth and Coal by the Blocker family; we’d like to use similar fencing, probably even very similar pavilion, (have) playground equipment for all ages, and restore the swing sets,” Saunders said.

He said the borough can’t thank BHA enough for their immense contribution.

“It’s absolutely monumental that they’re willing to invest in the district,” he said. “I think it speaks volumes to that organization committing to the betterment of the community in which their students reside, and also it will provide them with something they will use for the enrichment and enjoyment of their students.

There have been other uses discussed for Skyline Park in recent years.

A dog park and a skate park were among the ideas.