SCOTCH PLAINS — The recreation commission on Monday held an extended discussion about the wedge of land adjacent to the Orchid Park development on Terrill Road that the township plans to use for recreation purposes.
Part of the redevelopment agreement to convert the former Parker Gardens property into housing called for the developer of Orchid Park to give a 2.5-acre piece of property between the new development and the Terrill Middle School field to the township. At the commission’s meeting, Chairman Mike Walsh said that, given the relatively small size of the property, “we’re very limited in what we can do there.” He said a baseball field would be problematic given the field’s close proximity to some of the apartment buildings on the site.
“We want to be good neighbors,” he said as he urged commission members to visit the site before the commission intensifies its discussions. The [Orchid Park] developer has expressed concerns that the field could end up with lights, which would impact the nearby apartment residents, and that if a baseball field is developed, errantly-batted balls could hit residents’ cars. Mr. Walsh suggested the property be used for passive activities or kids’soccer or field hockey. He said later that perhaps a small indoor facility might be suitable.
Working with the board of education will also be important, said Deputy Mayor MattAdams, who told the commission that he and Mayor Joshua Losardo have begun discussions with board officials about, in essence, tying the new field to the playing fields behind the school via a new walking path and also utilizing the school’s parking lot if needed during activities at the new field.
Redevelopment director Thomas Strowe said the plan is to have the property’s utilities — water, sewer and electricity — connected directly to the development’s existing lines instead of having a separate connection to the main lines on Terrill Road. He said the Orchid Park developer wants to complete that “sooner than later” so that paving of the development’s parking areas and driveways can be completed. The cost of doing this, Mr. Strowe estimated, will be about $50,000 and will be split between the developer and the township. He said partnering with the developer will be “faster, cheaper and easier.”
Recreation Director Julie Buonaguro said the commission “will have a say” in how the property is ultimately utilized, and Mr. Adams said the public will have opportunities to provide input and feedback as the commission begins serious consideration of how to develop the property.
Ms. Buonaguro also updated the commission on some of the larger projects that will be funded in large part by the recently-approved capital bond ordinance. Recreation, she said, “has really benefited from the support of the mayor and council” in recent years. Repairs to the restroom facilities at all of the parks will likely be done over a multi-year period, she said. The flooring at the Towne House at Green Forest Park will be replaced. New utility vehicles and a dump truck will be purchased.
New scoreboards at Memorial Field, Farley Avenue Park and Jerseyland Park are planned, as are batting cages at those three parks as well as at Brookside Park. Ms. Buonaguro showed the commission renderings of possible locations for the batting cages. She said the funding for all of the projects will come from a mixture of capital funds and grant money.
In past years, the commission has held some of its summertime meetings at various township parks, including Brookside and Kramer Manor Parks. Next month’s meeting, on Monday, June 9, will be held at Haven Park and it is likely that the following two meetings will also be held at a park, possibly Farley Avenue and Green Forest Parks.
