S.R. officials hope to add parkland
A decision could be made as early
as Dec. 27
By takesha pettus
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER — Borough officials are hoping to complete a deal with Middlesex County that would bring more open space to the borough.
According to Borough Council President David Sliker, the borough could vote on an official agreement at its Dec. 27 meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Willet Manor, Willet Place.
The borough has been negotiating a lease agreement with the county for use of 37 acres on Whitehead Avenue behind Grekoski Park. If approved, the agreement would enable the borough to possibly construct more playing fields, Sliker said.
"We’re trying to address the needs by utilizing the area," Sliker said.
Currently, the park has basketball courts, two fishing ponds, a tot lot and a parking lot.
The borough is hoping to construct a pedestrian walk way/bike path on a portion of the land where railroad tracks now lie.
Sliker said the borough does not intend to develop anything on the area of the property where there are wetlands.
In April 1999, the Middlesex County Open Space Committee approved the borough’s request to designate the land as open space.
The request, which was made by then council President Robert Szegeti and Sliker, was part of the borough’s revision to the master plan to add more open space.
In addition the borough will be conducting an aerial study on the public works yard.
The study, which is expected to cost between $2,000 and $3,000, will identify the entire parcel, particularly possible marshland on the site.
The borough is hoping to use the land to construct additional fields to add to the recently approved construction of a soccer field and parking lot at Heritage Woods.
In October, officials unveiled plans to build an athletic complex adjacent to the Heritage Woods site, owned by Matzel and Mumford.
Those plans, according to officials, would alleviate some of the borough’s growing need for soccer facilities.
The borough’s plans would add to Matzel and Mumford’s plan to construct a 31-space parking lot and soccer field.
The borough needs the county lease agreement in order to expand the Matzel and Mumford planned parking lot, adding 30 spaces, and in order to construct two more fields on the estimated 4 to 8 acres of land adjacent to the Department of Public Works.
The borough’s proposed additions include a softball field and a multipurpose field.
The aerial survey, Sliker said, will cost the borough much less than other methods of land surveying.