Palmerton has agreed to move forward with a feasibility study for the Palmerton Pool.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote recently approved a resolution for Department of Conservation and Natural Resources feasibility study acceptance.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell was absent.

After the meeting, borough Manager Autumn Canfield explained what it means moving forward.

“For DCNR grants, a formal resolution of acceptance of project completion is required,” Canfield said. “This action means the contractor for the feasibility study has completed the work in accordance with the grant agreement provisions, the report is acceptable to Palmerton, the contractor has been paid, and we will consider the items in the report as a guide as we move forward.”

Canfield noted that the Palmerton Memorial Park Association is undergoing a strategic planning initiative.

In December, borough council approved a Peer Grant Consultant Contract with Sue Landes for the Palmerton Memorial Park Association Planning Grant.

Landes is president of Recreation and Parks Solutions, as well as a peer consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Canfield said at that time Landes will execute the plans and provide structure to help PMPA set up plans and other things they are going to need.

Canfield noted at that time Clare Papay with the pool put together the scope of the work.

After that meeting, Canfield said the project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Program and Keystone Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

She said the project total is $19,800, with an $18,000 grant funded from DCNR, and $1,800 provided from the PMPA which was awarded through the Carbon County Community Foundation.

In May, study consultants from MKSD Architects and Counsilman-Hunsaker discussed findings of a study conducted on the pool.

In April 2025, council adopted a resolution applying for a Department of Community and Natural Resources Peer to Peer grant for the PMPA organizational study.

The borough, along with the Palmerton Memorial Park Association, worked with MKSD Architects in the Lehigh Valley and Counsilman-Hunsaker, a national firm that specializes in aquatic projects, to provide a comprehensive study to aid in understanding the current condition and future options for the pool.

The community survey is to help position the borough and PMPA to see future funding to renovate and improve the pool complex.

The MKSD study was capped at $59,820, as the borough has $60,000 from a grant through DCNR.

Canfield said the PMPA 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.

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.

Completed in 1947, the PMPA facilities consist of a swimming complex with a 90-foot by 225-foot 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.