Township seeks $250,000 playground grant and approves park construction payments

Lower Paxton supervisors approved multiple parks-related actions at their June 2 meeting, including authorization to apply for state grant funds for a playground and several construction pay applications.

The board voted to adopt resolution 2026-15 authorizing submission of a $250,000 grant request to the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Greenways, Trails and Recreation program for the "Possibility Place" playground at George Park; the grant requires a 15 percent local match. Manager Mike Gosser said the township previously committed $1 million in general capital improvement funds that will serve as matching sources for multiple grant opportunities; if both the CFA and DNCR grants are awarded staff estimated the township's out-of-pocket match would total about $787,000.

Separately, the board approved final payment number four for the Coons Memorial Park basketball-court renovations in the amount of $30,423.98. Staff reported total spent to date at about $452,778.90, under the $595,570 budgeted amount; approximately $32,850 of the project was funded through CDBG.

The supervisors also approved pay applications for Centennial Acres Park and Cole Memorial Park court improvements (pay application amounts of approximately $66,941 and $4,336 respectively), leaving roughly 5 percent in retainage.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved release of an improvement guarantee for 6753 Jonestown Road after HRG reported required items were complete.

The approvals move forward the township's active parks construction program; staff said projects remain under budget in several cases and that grant awards will determine final funding obligations.