NorCo Council Invests $1,090,686 in a Dozen Open Space Projjects

At their May 18 meeting, Northampton County Council approved $1,090,686 in open space programs for a dozen projects throughout the county. They were all meticulously described by Conservation Coordinator Sherry Acevedo in advance of the vote.  Here's the breakdown. 

Reinhard's Park (Hellertown) - $166,435 (including county grant of $75,000) for a  passive recreational park area, including an ADA accessible gazebo with a native plant garden.

Wilson Borough Meuser Park - $599,000 (including county grant of $75,000) - for two tennis courts and six pickleball courts with crowned surfaces, ADA accessible pathways, parking lot resurfacing, rain gardens, fencing  and benches. 

Bethlehem Tp Municipal Park Playground rehab - $514,585 (with $75,000 county grant) to replace the playground next to community center  with poured in place rubber safety equipment. The current playground is over 20 years old, and there are no spare parts for malfunctioning equipment. 

Hanover Tp pool complex - $152,590 (including county grant of $50,000) . At the new community pool, a subsurface detention basin is being built underneath a rain garden. It will provide a slow, low volume release into an existing swale. It is believed this will minimizes sinkholes common in that area. 

Lower Mount Bethel Tp - $173,746 (including county grant of $35,161) to relocate 1 tennis courts and add 2 pickleball courts with crowned surfaces and construct a vegetated swale 

Moore Tp - $95,000 (including county grant of $47,500) for an open space plan

Palmer Tp - $125,000 (including county grant of $62,500) for Bushkill Creek Corridor Greenway plan to address flooding, access into Penn Pump Park and stream bank stabilization

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $50,000 (including county grant of $25,000) for a Portland to Minsi Park Trail feasibility study.  This stretch is 5.5 miles, and would be a combination on road and off road. 

Wildlands Conservancy - $240,000 (including county grant of $120,000) for stream restoration after a 2021 dam removal, invasive plant removal.

Greater Easton Development Partnership - $375,000 (including county grant of $187,500) to acquire 1.2 acres from Norfolk Southern at Lehigh Drive and Washington Street for an urban park and a trailhead.

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $159,000 (including county grant of $75,600) to purchase conservation easement of 33.6 acres.

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $524,850 (including county grant of $262,425) to purchase conservation easement of 95.86 acres adjacent to Delaware River.