Antis Township will apply to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a $250,000 grant to construct a dog park and a pair of pickleball courts at Bellwood Antis Community Park.

The dog park would be located in the southernmost corner of the park, in a generally triangular area bisected by — and underneath — a concrete pedestrian bridge over the mainline railroad tracks.

The pickleball courts would replace a sand-surfaced court for volleyball in the park that is “more a litter box than a volleyball court,” according to Township Manager Doug Brown.

The Greenways Trail Recreation Program grant requires a 15% match, which the township would fulfill partially with “in-kind” work.

A dog park is included in the township’s Park and Recreation Plan, Brown said, noting the township has received multiple requests to create such a space.

Putting a dog park in the area under and around the pedestrian bridge would take advantage of an “unsightly” and underutilized space, Brown said.

It’s the best available location in town, he said.

There is an apartment building nearby, but it’s uphill from the proposed site, which should protect against noise from dogs barking, Brown predicted.

There is a potential second location, but it isn’t ideal, he said.

The 1/3- to 1/2-acre dog park would be fenced and would contain a bench and a dog waste station.

The project should enable the authorities to close off access to the tracks in that area, something that police have requested, Brown said.

An additional sidewalk connection and a parking lot will be part of the project.

One potential issue is the ownership of the area proposed for the dog park, Brown said.

When the bridge was built, there was an agreement between PennDOT and Bellwood Borough under which PennDOT would convey the property in that area to the borough, he said.

However, PennDOT never filed the deed, he said.

Borough officials are willing to take ownership now, according to Brown.

“It’s being looked at,” he said.

Pickleball is the fastest growing participation sport in the U.S., according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

The grant application is due by the end of this month, but the state’s decision on the application isn’t expected until January, Brown said.

Stormwater grant sought

Antis will also apply for a still-undetermined amount of grant money from the Dirt, Gravel and Low-Volume Road program to install storm drainage infrastructure on Mountain View Drive, which intersects Bell-Tip Road.

The grant money would pay for materials, including catch boxes and pipes.

The township would hire a contractor for some of the work.

Township employees would also do some of the work: deepening an existing ditch, laying down a liner, placing rocks, installing perforated pipe, then covering the pipe with rocks, according to Randy Showalter, highway superintendent.

The work done by township employees would constitute an in-kind match.

A match isn’t required, but it makes it likelier that the program would grant the money, because it generates “points” on the application, Brown said.