Lehighton will spend nearly $600,000 to spruce up its downtown park.

On a 6-0 vote at a special meeting on Wednesday, borough council agreed to award a bid for improvements to the Col. Jacob Weiss Park.Councilman Joe Flickinger was absent.Council awarded the bid to Kobalt Construction of Swiftwater, in the amount of $586,295. That includes the base bid of $492,795, as well as $68,500 for pavers and $25,000 for landscaping.Kobalt Construction turned in the low base bid of $492,795, which was $18,405 less than the next lowest bid of $511,200 submitted by Spotts Brothers of Schuylkill Haven.Five companies turned in proposals for the project, which calls for upgrades such as limited stormwater management improvements; new concrete paving and curb; restoration of existing features; and other indicated improvements.Borough manager Nicole Beckett said the borough's Light & Power Department will install the park lighting at a cost of $48,477 as part of the grant match.The borough received two grants for the project: $250,000 from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, and $245,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Grant Program.In a related matter, council agreed to transfer $500,000 from the borough's Light & Power fund to Capital Projects as needed in the interim until project expenses are reimbursed by the grant, Beckett said.Council also approved the Atlantic Tactical Proposal for the purchase of automatic rifles and safety equipment in the amount of $12,162.