A $250,000 state grant has been awarded to make improvements at Memorial Park in Jim Thorpe, Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-122, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, announced Wednesday.

The money will be used to build two basketball courts, fencing, and outdoor lighting. An ADA adjustable basketball hoops will be installed as well, to allow children and others to enjoy the new courts.

“Jim Thorpe Borough is very happy and excited about this award for phase three of our Memorial Park rehabilitation construction project,” said Maureen Sterner, the Borough Manager for Jim Thorpe. “Our basketball courts are one of the most actively used items in the park. These funds will assist us to continue with our phased project and allows us to make Memorial Park even more accessible for all ages and abilities. Our recreation engineers, Barry Isett and Associates, have exceeded our expectations with their grant writing assistance and park planning. We look forward to beginning this next phase.

The grant was awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority via the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program, which funds projects to develop, rehabilitate, and improve public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trail, and rivers. The program is funded through unconventional gas well impact fees.