Palmerton has taken the next step for a feasibility study to be done at its Memorial Park.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Thursday authorized distribution of the Request for Proposal for the Palmerton Memorial Pool Association pool feasibility study.

Councilman Andrew Hollywood said this step is needed to move forward with the grant.

Earlier this year, council approved a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources consultant agreement for the Palmerton Memorial Pool Association.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said the Palmerton Memorial Pool Association previously approached council for a partnership of two grants with council through DCNR.

Both of the grants were received.

She said one is a planning grant for a feasibility study of the property leased by PMPA, which will be used as a planning document.

Canfield said the other is the peer grant with DCNR providing funding to assist in the cost of a professional to update the lease the borough has with PMPA.

She said the contract approved by council was that of the consultant’s for the work.

The Palmerton Memorial Park Association is a nonprofit organization created for the benefit of the residents of the Palmerton area in memory of veterans who served in the military during World War I and World War II.

Completed in 1947, the PMPA facilities consist of a swimming complex with a 90 feet x 225 feet swimming pool and baby wading pool, associated bathhouse with office and refreshment stand, a small pavilion, a picnic grove with a large pavilion, and a wooded nature trail surrounding the facility on 18 acres of woodland.

Also at that meeting, council approved the renewal of the Palmerton Memorial Park Association lease.

Clare Papay, volunteer board member of the Palmerton Memorial Park Association, said the borough owns the pool and leases to the Memorial Park Association.

The current lease was written in 1964.

Papay said the feasibility study will provide a physical/structural assessment of the pool, bath house, concession stand, parking, and ADA access.

She added they anticipate that the completed feasibility study will enable us to apply for grant funding in the near future for rehabilitation and development of the swimming pool complex.

Papay described how each grant that was received from DCNR will work.

The Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project helps municipalities improve their park, recreation and conservation services through a collaborative process. Projects are accomplished through contracts with experienced park, recreation or conservation professionals working closely with community leaders.

Papay said the purpose of this project is to hire a qualified consultant to evaluate and update the Palmerton Memorial Park and pool lease agreement between the Borough of Palmerton and the Palmerton Memorial Park Association to ensure clarity and adherence to modern legal standards.

She said the grant award is $15,000, with a $1,500 match requirement that was split equally between the borough and the PMPA. The borough’s half of the match requirement was paid for by a donation from Councilman Richard Nothstein.

Papay explained the Community Conservation Partnerships Program: Planning project for a Swimming Pool Feasibility Study, and noted that planning projects such as this pool feasibility study lay the groundwork for future development and/or management of parks and recreational facilities.

Papay said the grant award is $30,000 with a $30,000 match requirement that is being paid with funds from the Palmerton Memorial Park Association.

Councilman Randy Gursky was absent from the meeting Thursday.