Improvements to Avon Park will be modified to make sure the project does not cost more than the grant funds available.

Although the park property is leased and maintained by Ben Avon Borough, it lies within Kilbuck Township, and Kilbuck obtained a $25,500 grant to make the facility more handicapped-accessible.

Kilbuck Township secretary Harry Dilmore reported at the Oct. 27 meeting of the township's board of supervisors that the original project would have cost several thousand dollars more than the available grant funds, so the contractor has been instructed to hold off on some work and shorten a sidewalk to reduce the cost.

The money will be used to establish a handicapped parking spot and a regular parking spot at the Walnut Road entrance to the park, install a handicapped-accessible water fountain, and construct sidewalks.

Supervisor Susan Merkner questioned whether creating a regular parking space would encourage vehicular traffic on Walnut, which had concerned residents of the street.

"Isn't that inviting more traffic, which is what we wanted to avoid in the first place?" she asked.

Officials clarified that the parking would be available only during the hours the park was open, and proper laws and signage would be placed to allow police to enforce parking restrictions.

Dilmore said that he has applied for another grant that would further improve the park. In response to a question from a resident, supervisor John Fader said that Ben Avon also has obtained grants for park improvements, including one that paid for new playground equipment.