A project to jazz up Lehighton's downtown park continues to make strides.

Borough manager Nicole Beckett announced at borough council's meeting on Monday that the Colonel Jacob Weiss Park project is underway.Council approved a paymentin the amount of $45,000 to Kobalt Construction Inc. of Swiftwater for work done to the park thus far.Additionally, council approved the lower park project bills totaling $11,202, and for lighting and electrical upgrades.Finally, council approved a change order for the project, which was a credit of $21,000, for changes made to the scope of the project with regard to crosswalks and the design of sidewalks.Last month, council agreed to award a bid for improvements to the park to Kobalt in the amount of $586,295, which included the base bid of $492,795, as well as $68,500 for pavers, and $25,000 for landscaping.The project calls for upgrades such as limited stormwater management improvements, new concrete paving and curb, restoration of existing features, and other indicated improvements.Beckett previously 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.