Rush Township is getting a jump on the Grier City Park project, performing electrical upgrades and mapping plans for excavation, which will be accomplished as soon as the ground can be worked.

After the township’s meeting Thursday, Supervisor Robert Leibensperger said that the existing play sets and equipment will be left in place until an area is prepped for the new play sets. Phase 1 includes the electrical upgrades and installation of new play sets.

During the meeting, the supervisors approved a letter of commitment for the township’s contribution for Phase 1, $20,000, which will include a mix of moneys and in-kind work.

Phase 2 includes removal of the existing pavilion and its replacement. The township hopes to add an ADA-compliant bathroom facility and is pursuing grant moneys and seeking donations for that project.

Rush Township has six parks: Grier City, Miller Park/Ballfield, Ryan/Old Hauto, Quakake, Kelly and Lincoln. The township acquired the 8-acre Grier City Park in 2015, when the Grier City Union Sunday School Association turned the ownership over to the township.

The township is poised to receive two DCNR grants totaling $260,000, which will be spent on improvements to three of the township’s parks, Grier City, Miller and Ryan. Planned projects include ADA bathrooms at Miller Park, new play sets at the parks and a disc golf course at Ryan Park.

The township will have to provide $55,000 in matching funds for the projects and hopes to raise some of the moneys through banner sponsorship for signs at the Miller Park ball field.

In other business

Rush supervisors acted on the following:

• Approved the purchase of a 2019 police vehicle from New Holland Auto for $27,487. Chairman Shawn Gilbert said that the township needs to replace a current vehicle in its fleet, which is a Ford Crown Victoria. New Crown Victorias are no longer available, but through the efforts of Police Chief Kenneth Zipkovsky, one was located at New Holland Auto. Gilbert said the police equipment from the current vehicle can be swapped into the new vehicle. Had the township purchased a different model, the existing police equipment couldn’t have been used.

• Approved a $20,500 contract for Lehigh Asphalt Paving and Construction Co. to remove and replace lane division curbing on Tide Road.

• In response to a question from resident Bill Boyer, the supervisors said that they will begin patching potholes in about three weeks, when hot patch can be used. Boyer asked that Ryan Avenue be repaired.

• Announced that the Rush Township Easter Egg Hunt will be at noon April 13 at Miller Park. Volunteers are needed.