Walker Township plans to make improvements to Wildcat Park this year after receiving a $56,000 state grant.

Some of the projects on tap include new playground equipment, resurfaced courts, and making the park and pavilion more accessible to people with disabilities.

During their reorganization meeting on Monday, the township supervisors thanked their local state legislators for helping to obtain the grant. State Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks, and Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill/Berks/Carbon, announced the grant in December.

“This is the second time we’ve gotten the grant, and we’re very happy with it,” said Craig Wagner, chairman of the Walker Township Supervisors.

The playground equipment at Wildcat Park has been in place for more than 30 years. The parents of today’s children used the same merry-go-round, metal sliding board and jungle gym.

The supervisors hope to use the funds to replace the playground and possibly relocate the old equipment to another place in the park. Plans for the playground are still in the works. The supervisors hope to get input from its parks committee, which it formed last year to bolster its application for the DCNR grant.

They plan to seek bids for the project sometime this year.

The grant proposal also called for new handicap parking spaces and a walkway that will allow people with disabilities to access the park.

“The equipment and the pavilion needed help, and this will get us in compliance with (the Americans with Disabilities Act),” Wagner said.