UPPER FREEHOLD — A bond ordinance that will pay for construction work and the development of the Byron Johnson Recreation Area has been approved by the Township Committee.
The bond will provide $1 million for the construction of the Byron Johnson park as well as other parks scheduled for the future.
Part of the development costs for the Byron Johnson Recreation Area is being paid for by K. Hovnanian developers, which is building a residential community in Upper Freehold at Extonville, Ellisdale and Old York roads.
The 28-acre Byron Johnson site will feature soccer fields, youth baseball fields and basketball courts. The park will be developed next to Allentown High School, High Street, near the border of Allentown and Upper Freehold. While the land is owned by Monmouth County, Upper Freehold will maintain control over scheduling of recreation events on the site.
"The fields are staked and lined for the earth movers," according to Committeeman William E. Miscoski. "We are on our way. We are hoping to get, weather permitting, all the earthwork done. Hopefully we can move on to detailing the fields by spring."
The Byron Johnson park is scheduled to open in spring 2002.
Delays have plagued the construction of the project since its inception. Plans for the project were set to go earlier this year until Monmouth County engineers amended their plans for the Allentown Westerly Bypass. The bypass project was moved 55 feet and cut into land originally included for the park. As a result, Upper Freehold engineers had to adjust the park plans to account for the alteration of the bypass.
Another delay came when the site was staked incorrectly for construction. Engineers had to reline the site, costing the project two days.
The bond ordinance approved by the committee on Dec. 7 also covers the cost of plans for parks in the works.
"We have a lot of kids, we need more fields for them and we are looking around for any area for more soccer fields and baseball fields," Miscoski said.
Committee members are considering a plan to construct soccer fields in front of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, Allentown-Yardville Road.
"There is a lot of cooperation from the soccer people," Miscoski said. "After nine years of planning everyone is cooperating and it is moving along nicely."