Palmerton Borough Council earlier this month 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.

Canfield said it was a joint effort, and added that both of the grants were applied for and have been 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.

Lease/feasibility study

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 land on which the memorial park is located is owned by the borough and is leased to the Memorial Park Association,” Papay said. “As the land owner, the borough needs to be the applicant for any DCNR funds to support renovations and improvements of the pool facilities.”

Papay said the current lease was written in 1964.

“Updating the lease agreement will ensure a clear agreement between the two entities that adheres to modern legal standards,” she said. “This update can facilitate long-term planning, community engagement, financial stability, and a strengthened partnership between the parties involved. In addition, the lease needs to be updated to meet the requirements for applying for further DCNR funding.”

Papay said the study is needed.

“The feasibility study is required in order to apply for further DCNR funding,” she said. “The study will provide a thorough assessment of the renovations needed and will show the necessity of the Palmerton Pool for the recreational needs of the residents of Palmerton and surrounding areas.”

Papay added, “The feasibility study will allow us to identify all areas of the pool facility that are in need of repair or improvement.”

“In particular, the feasibility study will provide a physical/structural assessment of the pool, bath house, concession stand, parking, and ADA access,” she said. “We 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.”

Grants

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

With regard to the Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project through the Peer and Circuit Rider grant competition, she said Peer grants projects help 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.

“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,” Papay said.

Papay 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.

She then explained the Community Conservation Partnerships Program: Planning project for a Swimming Pool Feasibility Study.

Papay noted that planning projects such as this pool feasibility study lay the groundwork for future development and/or management of parks and recreational facilities.

“The purpose of this project is to engage a qualified consultant to prepare a swimming pool complex feasibility study for the rehabilitation of Palmerton Memorial Park Association Swimming Pool in Palmerton Borough, Carbon County. A swimming pool complex feasibility study is a professionally prepared study to determine community support, market characteristics, physical/structural assessment and the legal and financial capability to acquire, develop or rehabilitate, manage and sustain a swimming pool complex. A swimming pool complex includes the pool, bath house, concession, parking, and other site amenities,” she said.

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.

“I have worked closely with borough Manager Autumn Canfield on these grant applications, and appreciate her support as we continue to work together now the grants have been awarded,” she said.