Palmerton has taken the next step for a feasibility study at its Memorial Park.

Borough council last week accepted the peer report of the lease update for Department of Community and Natural Resources grant.

In September, borough council on a 5-0 vote approved a proposal from MKSD Architects not to exceed $59,820 per DCNR’s contract selection.

After that meeting, borough Manager Autumn Canfield said that the borough has $60,000 from a grant through DCNR.

Earlier this year, council approved a DCNR consultant agreement for the Palmerton Memorial Pool Association.

Canfield said the Palmerton Memorial Pool Association 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.

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-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.

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 current lease was written in 1964.

Papay said the feasibility study will provide a physical/structural assessment of the pool, bath house, concession stand, parking, and ADA access.

She added they anticipate that the completed feasibility study will enable them to apply for grant funding in the near future for rehabilitation and development of the swimming pool complex.

The Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project helps municipalities improve their park, recreation and conservation services through a collaborative process. Projects are accomplished through contracts with experienced park, recreation of conservation professionals working closely with community leaders.

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.

The Community Conservation Partnerships Program allows for a planning project for a Swimming Pool Feasibility Study. The grant is $30,000, with a 30% match requirement that is being paid with funds from the Palmerton Memorial Park Association.