One outstanding feature of Summit Hill is its various, well-manicure parks. The diligent maintenance of the parks by the borough workforce has long been recognized.

There’s the Ginder Field and playground, Bill Black Park for small children, Memorial Park, and Little League field.

There are basketball courts, baseball fields, a wide assortment of equipment at the playgrounds and walking paths.

Over the past few weeks, some of those parks have received improvements, which punctuate access and usage of the facilities.

Public Works Department supervisor Ronald Yuricheck said the borough has received a 2026 Tourism Impact Grant through the Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau for this work, with some funding also obtained from the borough’s Recreation Commission.

As a result, Yuricheck said mulch was replaced at the Bill Black Park, the walking track inside the Ginder Field — which was once the athletic complex of the former Summit Hill High School — has been resurfaced. The playground at the Ginder Field also had some improvements.

Yuricheck said the work on the walking track at the Ginder Field consisted of making the track level, adding fine stone and compacting it, and doing various other work to make it more conducive for walking.

“A lot of people walk around that track and there were a lot of ruts,” Yuricheck said. “Now, they can walk safely.”

The grant was secured through a joint application process of the Recreation Commission, chaired by Kathy Gieniec, and the borough council.

The park improvements are ongoing.

Presently, Marlene Basiago, a member of the council, is heading a private citizens committee to make major improvements to Memorial Park, which is the former Old Presbyterian Cemetery.

She said the cemetery not only has heritage significance, but also is a place where citizens can walk or relax.

Those improvements will be done in several phases, the first involves installing benches (some of which will be memorialized), pavers for the pathway, and solar lamp posts throughout the park, Basiago said.

“We’ll also clean, replace missing stones and apply mortar to the cracks and holes in the wall surrounding the park, especially on the damaged side of Fell Street,” she said.

To fund the project, various fundraisers are planned, grants are being sought, and sponsorships are needed for the benches and pavers.

The cost of a plain bench is $1,100 while a memorialized bench costs $1,600. Memorializing a 6-by-9 inch paver is $100.

Aug. 31 is the deadline to purchase memorial pavers, Basiago said.

Checks can be made payable to: CCCF (Carbon County Community Foundation). On the memo line, indicate “Memorial Park,” she said. They can be dropped off at the Summit Hill Borough Hall or mailed to Summit Hill Borough, 40 W. Amidon St., Summit Hill, PA 18250.