EASTON, Pa. – Easton City Council received a presentation on plans for a skatepark Wednesday night at city hall.

The presentation, entitled “Easton Skatepark 2026 – The Need for a Skatepark in Easton,” termed skating a “multi-generational” activity. Bill McWilliams and Jake Baldini, skatepark committee members, said the city does not have adequate skate spaces to attract youth, teens, adults, bicyclists, scooter riders and those traveling on blades and skates.

The committee is advocating for an 8,000-square-foot skatepark at 507 Lehigh Drive. Mayor Sal Panto was termed “a major supporter” of the park, which will be an administration priority during this year, according to McWilliams.

The committee has raised funds for the park through T-shirts, raffles, auctions and donations. The funds raised total nearly $15,000.

The committee presented plans for the proposed skatepark, designed by 5th Pocket Skateparks, which would be funded through state grants. The group is requesting City Council approve a resolution supporting the park.

Parking meters

City Council approved amendments to the city’s traffic control map.

The changes involve adding three, 30-minute metered spaces between the Circle and Pine Street on the east side of Third Street for a two-year period starting in May. The 30-minute spaces will be enforced between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

In addition, the two 15-minute metered spaces in front of city hall will be removed to create a regular metered space.

PennDOT agreement

The city approved a resolution altering agreement terms with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Previously, Easton was awarded a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant worth $83,353. The grant was for the reconfiguration of the Bushkill Street and Pearl Street intersection. The grant’s original intent was for the city to perform the reconfiguration work. After the grant’s award, PennDOT announced plans for comprehensive transportation improvements along the Route 248 corridor, which includes the Bushkill Street and Pearl Street intersection.

The state transportation department now prefers to perform the intersection improvements as part of the larger Route 248 corridor project “to ensure efficiency, consistency and coordination, rather than attempting to coordinate multiple contractors and schedules.”

Given this, Wednesday night’s City Council action entered Easton into a contribution agreement with PennDOT, where the city would return the MTF grant fund to PennDOT, and the state transportation department would assume responsibility for completing the entire project.