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Due to my conflicting work schedule, Mayor Dan DePaul has volunteered to submit and present a proposal for obtaining a grant to create a new passive park for the War Memorial property, or an open air pavilion at Gerald W. Gross Park.

With the exception of engineering fees, either project, if approved by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, would be fully funded through a grant.

The passive park idea had been kicked around for a couple of years, but other priorities that qualified for a CDBG award took precedence, such as alleviating the 2nd Street flooding problem that was successfully completed.

A passive park, complete with a fountain (fed from the springhouse), landscaping, quality benches, wrought iron type fencing, and sidewalks would be focused on providing a respite area for adults in the community. It would afford them a quiet area to relax with no attractions of play areas for children.

A grant amount would be significant for the project and approval for a CDBG may not be forthcoming because of the cost, but it never hurts to try.

The other proposal will be an open air pavilion, which might be better received by the CDBG Authority, because of the lower cost.

The open air pavilion would be approximately 24′ x 48′, be covered by a roof, have multiple picnic tables underneath, and a cement floor.

The borough was informed about the opening up of a new CDBG opportunity this year late last month, with a deadline of April 10th to make presentations during a formal meeting at the Northampton County Courthouse.

Due to my work schedule I am unable to make the April 10th meeting and the Mayor graciously accepted my invitation to make the presentation in my absence, so as not to lose the opportunity to have West Easton considered for additional funding toward qualifying projects.