Local residents make suggestions for park improvements
By: Jessica Beym
Multipurpose playing fields, bike paths, a running track and exercise stations are just some of the recreational facilities residents said they would like to see in town.
More than 40 residents came to the Recreation Subcommittee workshop Monday and broke into groups to discuss the condition of the township’s existing parks and fields, the need for additional facilities, and what priority certain recreational activities should hold when planning for the future.
The information will be used to help shape the recreation portion of the Master Plan when it is updated in mid-September, said Allan Kehrt, the vice chairman of the Planning Board and chairman of the subcommittee, which consists of township board members and professional planners.
However, to the disappointment of many, subcommittee members said the purpose of the workshop was to address active recreation, which Township Planner Richard Preiss defined as organized, team activities such as soccer, baseball, lacrosse or football.
Still, some residents took the opportunity to talk about items such as bike paths and a running track.
In addition, 10 residents walked out at the beginning of the meeting, saying that, according to Mr. Preiss’ definition, active recreation doesn’t apply to them. They said they were there to discuss passive recreation and leisurely activities, such as walking, jogging and biking.
Throughout the night, other residents agreed that the needs of the entire community of all ages and both genders should be given equal attention.
"We’re focusing on the facilities, not a community-wide program," resident Connie Bauder said during the evening’s discussion. "The Recreation Department needs a mission statement to address that. It seems that this meeting is focusing on the fields for kids."
Mr. Preiss said a separate workshop could be held to address passive recreation. He also said that if residents thought the need for passive recreation trumps the need for more active recreational space, Monday was the time to say so.
Residents broke into six groups to discuss a number of topics, and the results were later read and recorded. The groups discussed improvements to existing fields, the need for additional fields and programs, and the factors to consider when planning for future park space.
When asked to prioritize issues that should be considered when deciding what parcel of land to use, three of the six groups said preservation of the natural environment was their first concern.
Other groups said the cost to taxpayers, pedestrian accessibility and compatibility with neighboring land uses should be the first factors taken into consideration.
Permanent bathroom facilities, drinking water fountains, irrigation for the fields, temporary lighting and more sidewalks to the parks were some of the improvements suggested.
More multi-purpose fields for pick-up games, practice and scheduled games were a common suggestion between the groups. Multi-purpose fields would accommodate a variety of sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football and even volleyball, residents said.
Additional fields also would allow the township to rotate fields so that the overused areas could be re-seeded and better maintained.
"We need a rotation system for soccer and other field sports," Bill Schraudenbach, a member of the Board of Education, said to his group.
Mr. Schraudenbach said the number of children who participate in field sports has grown substantially. In addition, he said, many residents from neighboring towns such as East Windsor and Plainsboro also use the township fields, causing the fields to be overused and creating a need for more fields.
Mr. Schraudenbach, referring to a recent issue of The Cranbury Press and the Retrospective column, pointed out that this year, 80 students graduated from the Cranbury School and 10 years ago there were 35 graduates.
But other residents argued that the number of Cranbury residents who play in team sports is not substantial enough to warrant additional fields or facilities to be built in town.
Resident John Ritter said that because there are so few children in Cranbury, the township should look into sharing more recreational services with neighboring towns, rather than building more fields.
The discussion about the need for more recreation space relative to Cranbury’s population seemed to be similar among the different groups.
"Cranbury is such a nice town and community, so you don’t want to have to jump in a car to get to a track, or a field in another town," Bonnie Coury said.
Residents also expressed a need for more sidewalks or traffic lights to improve pedestrian access to parks, particularly Millstone on Old Trenton Road. Additional facilities such as a running track, designated bike paths and a community center also were suggested, as were exercise stations for seniors and adults.